Barcelona ace football, Lionel Messi, is the world’s highest paid football, pocketing more money than his arch-rival Ronaldo.

In 2017, the star forward penned a new lucrative deal with Barcelona that will keep him at the Catalan side until 2021.

The new deal also translated to an increment in his wages at the club that places him among the best-paid footballers globally.

According to figures collated by France Football, Messi was ranked the highest paid player in the world, with the 31-year-old currently earning a staggering €130 million per year.

Cristiano Ronaldo emerged second in the list, earning €17 million less than his arch-rival despite signing an improved deal with Juventus last summer.

Neymar, who is currently the most expensive player following his £198 million move to PSG was placed third, with Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann and Gareth Bale completing the top five.

Manchester United’s Alexis Sanchez was the only Premier League player who made the top 10 list, ranking seventh globally.

Here is the full list:
1. Messi €130M

2. Ronaldo €113M

3. Neymar €91.5M
4. Griezmann €44M
5. Gareth Bale €40.2M
6. Iniesta €33M
7. Alexis Sánchez €30.7M
8. Coutinho €30M
9. Lavezzi €28.3M
10. Luis Suárez €28M
11. Piqué €27M
12. Toni Kroos €26.3M
13. Özil €25.8M
14. Mbappé €25M
15. Oscar (Shanghai) €24.3M
16. Agüero €24.3M
17. De Bruyne €23.5M
18. Hulk (Shanghai) €23.4M
19. Paul Pogba €23.3M
20. Sergio Ramos €23M