PARIS – Lionel Messi has overtaken Cristiano Ronaldo as the highest earnerin world football while Jose Mourinho tops the managers´ chart, accordingto France Football magazine.
The Barcelona attacker is a long way ahead in the figures for the currentseason, pulling in 126 million euros ($154mn) in salary, bonuses andcommercial revenue while his great Real Madrid rival is making 94mn euros.
Last season ´CR7´ led with 87.5mn euros with Messi on 76.5mn euros.
That works out at 25,000 euros per minute pitch time this season for Messiin La Liga, the Champions League, the Spanish Cup and Supercup and fourinternational appearances for Argentina this season, and assuming he playsall of Barcelona´s five remaining games.
The two players who have split the last 10 Ballons d´Or are followed byParis Saint-Germain´s Brazilian star Neymar on 81.5mn euros in thecalculations to be published by France Football on Tuesday and released toAFP Monday.
There is a big gap to Ronaldo´s Real teammate Gareth Bale on 44mn euros andBarca defender Gerard Pique on 29mn euros. Among coaches, ManchesterUnited´s Mourinho remains the biggest earner with 26 mn euros.
Next comes China boss Marcello Lippi on 23mn euros, follwoed by DiegoSimeone at Atletico Madrid, Zinedine Zidane, who has won the last twoChampions League titles at Real and Pep Guardiola, who has just ledManchester City to the English Premier League.
Top 5 player earners (gross wages, bonuses and commercial revenue in the2017-2018 season):
1. Lionel Messi (ARG/Barcelona): 126 mn euros
2. Cristiano Ronaldo (POR/Real Madrid: 94mn euros
3. Neymar (BRA/Paris Saint-Germain): 81.5 mn euros
4. Gareth Bale (WAL/Real Madrid): 44 mn euros
5. Gerard Pique (ESP/Barcelona): 29 mn euros
Top 5 coaches (gross wages, bonuses and commercial revenue in the 2017-2018season):
1. Jose Mourinho (POR/Manchester United): 26 mn euros
2. Marcello Lippi (ITA/China): 23 mn euros
3. Diego Simeone (ARG/Atletico Madrid): 22 mn euros
4. Zinedine Zidane (FRA/Real Madrid): 21 mn euros
5. Pep Guardiola (ESP/Manchester City): 20 mn euros. – APP /AFP