Barcelona's Lionel Messi World's Highest-Paid Footballer Earning Almost $1.5M Per Week

Lionel Messi "is the highest paid player in the world" after banking nearly £1M a week last year, according to Neil McLeman of the London DAILY MIRROR. France Football’s annual survey of wages reckons the Barcelona player earns more than £26M ($39M) in his basic salary before bonuses. And the Argentine "earns almost the same again in commercial deals with blue-chip sponsors" like adidas, FIFA 15 and Turkish Airlines to take his total annual income to £47.8M ($71M). Cristiano Ronaldo is second with earnings on £39.7M ($59M) with Neymar completing the top three of Spanish-based players on £26.8M ($40M). The highest ranked player in the Premier League "is Robin Van Persie in fifth place." The Dutch national has total earnings of £18.8M ($28M). He is one place ahead of Gareth Bale (£17.5M/$26M) and two in front of Wayne Rooney (£16.5M/$24.5M) (DAILY MIRROR, 3/24).