LIONEL Messi has overtaken Cristiano Ronaldo as the highest earner in world football while Jose Mourinho tops the managers’ chart, according to France Football magazine.

The Barcelona attacker is a long way ahead in the figures for the current season, pulling in €126 million in salary, bonuses and commercial revenue while his great Real Madrid rival is making €94 million.

Last season ‘CR7’ led with €87.5 million with Messi on €76.5 million.

That works out at €25,000 per minute pitch time this season for Messi in La Liga, the Champions League, the Spanish Cup and Supercup and four international appearances for Argentina this season, and assuming he plays all of Barcelona’s five remaining games.

The two players who have split the last 10 Ballons d’Or are followed by Paris Saint-Germain’s Brazilian star Neymar on €81.5 million euros in the calculations to be published by France Football on Tuesday and released to AFP on Monday.

Top 5 player earners (gross wages, bonuses and commercial revenue in the 2017-2018 season):
1. Lionel Messi (ARG/Barcelona): €126 million
2. Cristiano Ronaldo (POR/Real Madrid): €94 million
3. Neymar (BRA/Paris Saint-Germain): €81.5 million
4. Gareth Bale (WAL/Real Madrid): €44 million
5. Gerard Pique (ESP/Barcelona): €29 million

Top 5 coaches (gross wages, bonuses and commercial revenue in the 2017-2018 season):
1. Jose Mourinho (POR/Manchester United): €26 million
2. Marcello Lippi (ITA/China): €23 million
3. Diego Simeone (ARG/Atletico Madrid): €22 million
4. Zinedine Zidane (FRA/Real Madrid): €21 million
5. Pep Guardiola (ESP/Manchester City): €20 million

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