Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the world’s richest footballer after topping the annual list of players’ net worth compiled by Goal.The Real Madrid superstar held off Barcelona rival Lionel Messi in the Goal Rich List 2014 with an estimated wealth of €148 million.The Goal Rich List is collated by a team of analysts and takes into account all streams of revenue for active footballers over the course of their careers.Ronaldo succeeds David Beckham, who led the way on the 2013 list but called time on his playing career last May.Only current professionals are eligible with the earnings of more than 200 contenders assessed before Goal’s experts finalised the top 10.
Ronaldo has enjoyed a remarkable 12 months in which his value to club and country has never been more evident.He scored all four goals as Portugal beat Sweden in the World Cup play-offs, landed the 2013 Ballon d’Or and signed a record-breaking new five-year deal with Madrid.Messi came in second after inspiring Barcelona to the Spanish title and signing up for a range of lucrative endorsements. It was a mixed year for the Argentinian, however, who appeared in a Spanish court in September to testify over alleged tax fraud relating to commercial contracts and lost his grip on the Ballon d’Or after a year blighted by injuries.Samuel Eto’o is at number three, ahead of Rooney, thanks largely to the millions he earned at Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala, with Kaka, Ronaldinho, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Gianluigi Buffon and Thierry Henry completing the top 10.Goal made it clear that the list is based on the revenue of active players over the course of their entire careers and not just the previous year. See the top 10 richest footballers below:
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