England captain Wayne Rooney is the highest-paid English Premier League player, taking into account combined wages and endorsements, according to Forbes magazine’s latest list of the world’s 100 highest-paid athletes.
The list, published on Wednesday, puts the Manchester United striker at number 43 with earnings of $23.4-million last year, made up of $18.4-million in wages and $5-million in endorsements.
Boxer Floyd Mayweather heads the list with earnings of $105-million.
Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo is second on the list of highest-earning athletes worldwide with $80-million – $52-million in wages and $28-million in endorsements.
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi is the only other footballer in the top 10, with earnings of R64.7-million, comprising R41.7-million in wages and $23-million in endorsements.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic comes in at 12 with $44-million, Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale at 14 with $36.4-million, Monaco’s Radamel Falcao (on loan to Manchester United) at 15 with R35.4-million and Barcelona’s Neymar at 16 with R33.6-million.
Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero is the only other English Premier League player to make the top 50, in 44th place with $23.3-million.
The remaining English Premier League players in the list of 100 are Manchester City’s Yaya Toure (59), Manchester United’s Robin van Persie (81), Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard (86) and Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil (89).
Footballers account for 15% of the athletes on the list. – Additional reporting by M&G Reporter