In case you weren’t aware, soccer happens to be the most popular sport in the world. It might surprise you, but it’s true. And as a result of this fact, the best players alive reap major rewards. As if you needed another reason to be jealous of professional, athletes, now you’re about to see how well it pays to be a professional footballer.

Goal.com recently released their annual “Goal Rich List,” and it provides a detailed look at which players make the most amount of money, and where their wealth comes from. This list takes into consideration salaries, endorsement deals, and any form of investment portfolios that a player might have as well. So take a seat if you must because this is going to sting.

Here’s a look at the top five wealthiest soccer players on the planet.

5. Wayne Rooney

Total wealth:  $116 million

Wayne Rooney plays strike for both the English National Team and Manchester United, and is the wealthiest player in the English Premier League. Known for his strength on the field, Rooney has evolved into more than just goal scorer, which is why Man U rewarded him with a new$104 million contract in 2014. On top of that, the deal is reportedly worth £300,000 a week.

4. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Total wealth:  $118 million

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a superstar forward who plays for Paris Saint-Germain in the French Ligue 1. Although a hefty salary from his club team factors into his net worth, much of Ibrahimovic’s money comes from endorsement deals and smart investments. According to Goal, he has sponsorship deals with Nivea, Xbox, Volvo, and Dressman, and his investments include owning a substantial amount of property. It appears that Ibrahimovic is much more than a human highlight reel.

3. Neymar

Total wealth:  $152 million

Neymar is the face of Brazilian soccer and one of the main cogs on a very talented FC Barcelona team. His skills with the ball, and flair for excellence on the pitch, have made him one of the most popular players in the sport. His annual salary, which stands at €8.8 million a year, is small potatoes compared to his overwhelming endorsement deals, that include agreements with the likes of Nike, Panasonic, Volkswagen, Red Bull, and many more. That’s not a bad haul for being only 23 years old.

2. Lionel Messi

Total wealth:  $225 million

Lionel Messi is not only a magician on the soccer field, but he’s a businessman of it. His lucrative contract with Barcelona pays him $50 million a year and he has tons of endorsement deals on his plate — he works with brands such as Adidas, Samsung, Gillette, Gatorade, and Dolce & Gabbana. Messi is arguably one of the two-best soccer players in the world, and if he keeps winning Ballon d’Or awards (he’s won four times), which is given to FIFA World Player of the Year, he’ll be sure to continue to increase his overall wealth.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo

Total wealth:  $236 million

It should come as no surprise that Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo tops this list. For anyone who follows the sport, Ronaldo is the absolute best of the best. He scores goals, dribbles with speed and force, and has sensational ball control. His deal with Real Madrid pays him a whopping €18.2 million per year, and that number doesn’t include bonuses. He also crushes it on the endorsement front, has his own clothing line (CR7), and owns a very profitable property portfolio. Plus, people seem to find him easy on the eyes, so he’s got that going for him as well. It pays to be Cristiano Ronaldo.

copied from Yahoo.com

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