Lionel Messi Is World’s Highest Paid Footballer, Jose Mourinho Is Best Paid Manager

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is the highest paid footballer in the world while Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho earns more than any other manager in the game, according to a survey by France Football magazine.

The Argentina international, who is widely recognised as the world’s best footballer and has won the Ballon d’Or for the past two years, earns €31 million per annum. This amount that he garnered in 2011 came from his salary and publicity deals and is €3.5m more than what Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo earns.

Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney, a former team-mate of Ronaldo at Old Trafford, is third in the list with an annual income of €20.7m. US-based footballers, David Beckham of LA Galaxy and Thierry Henry of New York Red Bulls, are fifth and 11th in the list with earnings of €19m and €13.6m respectively.