Becks toppled by Messi as Barcelona star tops earners on £570k a week!

24 March 2010 12:33
Lionel Messi earned a staggering £29.7million in the last year, replacing David Beckham as the world's highest-earning footballer.[LNB]A study by France Football magazine found that the England midfielder had finally been toppled after two years on the top spot, though he stays above Cristiano Ronaldo in second place.[LNB]The £200,000 a week after-tax deal that Ronaldo signed when he left Manchester United for Real Madrid makes him the biggest earner by football salary, but Messi's burgeoning commercial deals and a £3.6m bonus for winning six trophies with Barcelona put him out in front.[LNB] Magician: Lionel Messi toys with the Zaragoza defence[LNB]FOOTBALL'S TOP EARNERSClubAnnual pay in £m1Lionel MessiBarcelona29.72David BeckhamLA Galaxy27.33Cristiano RonaldoR Madrid27.04KakaR Madrid16.95Thierry HenryBarcelona16.26RonaldinhoAC Milan15.57Carlos TevezMan City13.88ZlatanlIbrahimovicBarcelona13.09Frank LampardChelsea12.810Samuel Eto'oInter Milan12.4Source: France Football[LNB]The 22-year-old signed a new contract at the Nou Camp before Christmas guaranteeing him take-home pay of at least £180,000 a week, but extras pushed his earnings to more than £570,000 a week last year.[LNB]United star Wayne Rooney (right), arguably the best player in the world today, does not reach the top 10, but his former team-mate Carlos Tevez makes No 7 on the list.[LNB]The Manchester City forward apparently earned £13.8m last year - £266,000 a week - while Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard was just behind on £12.8m.[LNB]Jose Mourinho is the highest earning coach, with the Inter Milan boss picking up £11.7m, while last year's No 1 Luiz Felipe Scolari fell to third with £8.5m after Chelsea finally stopped topping up his gold-plated contract with Uzbekistan side Bunyodkur.[LNB]Roberto Mancini jumped to second on £10.8m after taking the Manchester City job in December.[LNB] High earners: David Beckham (left) and Ronaldinho[LNB][LNB] VIDEO: Now Messi does a mazy... watch superstar destroy Real ZaragozaWayne Rooney v Lionel Messi: Who is the perfect 10 - United's rampaging bull or 'the flea' from Barcelona?Now David's crocked, will lonely Victoria finally take control of Brand Beckham?Read Matt Fortune's fantastic World Football Blog[LNB]  

Source: Daily_Mail