(Reuters) – Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo has reclaimed top spot in the list of the world’s highest-paid soccer players from Lionel Messi, according to Forbes https://www.forbes.com/sites/christinasettimi/2021/09/21/the-worlds-highest-paid-soccer-players-2021–uniteds-cristiano-ronaldo-reclaims-top-spot-from-psgs–lionel-messi/?sh=2a9bd7013b7b.

After 12 years, Ronaldo returned to United in August from Juventus, and Messi moved to Paris St Germain.

Forbes stated that Ronaldo (one of the world’s most recognizable athletes, boasting over 500,000,000 followers on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, (NASDAQ:),) is expected to earn $125 million in 2021-22, before taxes, $70 million from United salary and bonuses, while Messi has moved to Paris St Germain.

The rest will come from endorsements and partnerships with brands including Nike (NYSE:), Herbalife (NYSE:), Clear and his CR7 brand.

Messi will earn a total of $110million, having topped the last year’s rankings. He will also receive $75 million in salary and $35 million through endorsements.

With total earnings in excess of $95million, the Argentine striker at PSG Neymar is third.

Kylian Mbappe, a PSG player with a salary of $43 million is fourth while Liverpool’s forward Mohamed Salah is fifth on the Forbes List at $41 million.

Top 10 highest earners in soccer:

Cristiano Ronaldo – $125 million

Lionel Messi – $110 million

Neymar – $95 million

Kylian Mbappe – $43 million

Mohamed Salah – $41 million

Robert Lewandowski – $35 million

Andres Iniesta – $35 million

Paul Pogba – $34 million

Gareth Bale – $32 million

Eden Hazard – $29 million