Highest-paid players in world football: Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi for top spot
Who are the highest-paid players in the world? Based on annual wages/bonuses/sponsorships
Footballers wages are constantly on the rise, but several world class superstars have risen above the crowd thanks to enormous bonuses and sponsorship deals.
Basic wages no longer form the majority of some players' annual income, including Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the two top earners in world football.
But while the pair are constantly compared by their magical footballing abilities, which star takes home the biggest amount of pay on a yearly basis?
Messi and Ronaldo are joined in the top five by team-mates and a former Barcelona star, while there's a shock inclusion among the list.
Despite building a reputation as the richest league in football, the Premier League is not represented in the top five, according to the data from France Football.
Take a look through the gallery to reveal the highest-paid players in the world – based on annual gross wages, bonuses and sponsorship deals.