Cristiano Ronaldo has set a new record as the first footballer to earn more than €1 billion.

Forbes compiled a list of the world’s highest-paid footballers by combining their wages and endorsements. Cristiano Ronaldo, the prodigal son of Manchester United, has surpassed Lionel Messi to take the lead. After his surprising exit from FC Barcelona, the Argentine is ranked second. When it comes to salaries alone, Messi is still the highest-paid player. Although they are both playing for new teams this season, their salaries are the same.

Three of the top five highest-paid football players work for Paris Saint-Germain. While Ronaldo and Messi were expected to make the list, veteran Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta was a pleasant surprise. According to Forbes, the top ten highest-paid footballers in the world are listed below. Regardless, all earnings on Forbes’ list are pre-tax and may fall in value after deductions are taken into account.

The world’s top five highest-paid soccer players in 2021

1. Cristiano Ronaldo – €106.55 Million

Cristiano Ronaldo, the leading scorer in Serie A last season with 29 goals, is a man who never stops working, even at the age of 36. His return to his former club, Manchester United, dominated the transfer window. Dare we say it outperformed some other high-profile moves by a long shot?

Although Ronaldo may not have the biggest salary at Manchester United, his endorsement earnings put him in the lead. The forward has endorsement ties with a number of companies, including Nike. However, it is his own CR7 brand, which is prevalent in a variety of disciplines, that stands out the most. Ronaldo earns €59.65 million per year in salary and an additional €46.86 million in other revenues.

2. Lionel Messi – €93.78 Million

Despite the fact that he is no longer ranked first on this list, Messi has a strong case to be considered the greatest footballer of all time. After years of wishing for an international title, the Argentine won the Copa America this summer.

Messi’s fairytale chapter with Barcelona came to a bittersweet conclusion. Although his wage with PSG is lower than his previous club Barcelona, he remains the highest-paid player in football, discounting external earnings. Messi has endorsement ties with Adidas, Pepsi, and even Budweiser. Messi’s endorsements and other earnings bring in a total of €29.83 million.

3. Neymar Jr. – €80.95 Million

Neymar’s pay at PSG is the same as that of Lionel Messi, his new teammate. Neymar is presently the joint highest-paid player in the world, with a salary of 63.91 million Euros per year. After leaving Barcelona four years ago, Neymar went on to play a key part in the recruitment of Lionel Messi to the French team. He is also the ambassador for Triller and has a sizable social media following.

After a public spat with Nike, the Brazilian star secured a new deal with Puma this summer. Neymar would be expecting to achieve his long-term goal of winning the Champions League with a star-studded squad.

4. Kylian Mbappe – €36.65 Million

Mbappe is already earning on par with the best in the world at the age of 22. Mbappe has already turned down a new contract with PSG that would have paid him the same as Neymar and Messi. With only a year left on his contract and a foot out the door at PSG, the scenario for the Parisians is bleak. His current contract with PSG pays him €23.87 a week in addition to lucrative endorsement deals with some of the world’s most well-known brands.

Real Madrid has the financial means to compete with PSG’s fresh offer. Regardless of what happens next year, Mbappe will undoubtedly be among the top players on this list.

5. Mohamed Salah – €34.93 Million

Mohamed Salah, one of the few Premier League players on this list, is without a doubt deserving of such a contract. His deal may be a few tiers below than Messi’s, Ronaldo’s, and Neymar’s, but he is still one of the highest-paid players in the Premier League. The Egyptian receives a salary of €21.31 million per year in addition to endorsements and sponsorship deals.

Salah’s contract with Liverpool is up in two years, and he is currently in talks with the Merseyside club. Liverpool must do everything possible to stop the Premier League’s most prolific winger from scoring.