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#2 Lionel Messi - $77 million
Lionel Messi finished runner-up in Copa America, La Liga, Ballon d'Or and UEFA Player of the Year award in 2016 and now finished 2nd in the list of players who earned the most in 2016. The Argentine made a whopping $77 million in the calendar year.
With his wages and bonuses alone getting him $51 million, Messi earned more than most players did even with endorsements! To be precise, the salary he got from Barcelona alone was more than the total earning of Luis Suarez and Eden Hazard combined!
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Sponsored by companies like Adidas, Gatorade, EA Sports, and Lays, Messi gets $26 million every year just in these deals. His endorsements alone earn him what Wayne Rooney earns in an entire year!
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo - $82 million
Champions League, EURO 2016, Ballon d'Or, UEFA Player of the Year and now also the highest earning football in 2016! Cristiano Ronaldo had it all his way in the last calendar year.
Real Madrid ended up paying him a total of $53 million in salary and bonuses. The Champions League win alone is rumoured to have got him a huge bonus of $1.75 million.
When you are on top of your game, you're bound to be sponsored by the best companies. Nike, Herbalife, Clear, and Tag Heuer were Ronaldo's major sponsors as he collected a total of $29 million such deals!
