Out of Play

World’s top 10 best-paid footballers revealed

There doesn’t seem to be a transfer window that goes by without Cristiano Ronaldo being linked with an exit from Real Madrid.

And this one is no different, with reports from Spain earlier this week suggesting the Portuguese wants pay parity with Lionel Messi.

But, according to figures released by Marca, Ronaldo will need a serious pay hike to join Messi – and would probably need to leave Spain to get it.

Ronaldo comes in at just six in the world’s top 10 best-paid players, despite having won the Ballon d’Or in each of the last two seasons.

But who trumps him? Here’s the full list of annual salaries…

10. Graziano Pelle (Shandong Luneng) £15m

Pelle plays in China with Shandong Luneng (Image: Shandong Luneng Taishan FC)

9. Paul Pogba (Manchester United) £15.4m

Pogba was the world’s most expensive player when he signed for United (Image: Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)

8. Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain) £15.9m

Mbappe earns a fortune despite his tender years (Image: AFP)

7. Hulk (Shanghai SIPG) £17.6m

Hulk is coining it in during his stint in the Chinese Super League (Image: AFP)

6. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) £18.5m

Ronaldo only comes at sixth in the list – despite winning the Ballon d’Or (Image: AFP)

5. Ezequiel Lavezzi (Hebei Fortune) £20.3m

Lavezzi swapped Paris for China (Image: Getty Images)

4. Oscar (Shanghai SIPG) £21.1m

No wonder he’s smiling… (Image: AFP)

3. Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain) £31.7m

Neymar struck four times against Dijon (Image: Anthony Dibon/Icon Sport)

2. Carlos Tevez (Shanghai Shenhua) £33.5m*

(Image: AFP)

*Prior to Tevez’s transfer back to Boca Juniors

1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) £40.5m

Have a look at what you could have won, Ronnie! (Image: AFP)
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