David Beckham is the best paid player in soccer, according to a study published Tuesday by France Football magazine. The Englishman makes the same annual salary ($6.4 million) as Real Madrid midfield partner Zinedine Zidane, but his endorsement deals boost his earnings to $37.4 million.
Soccer's richest coach, according to France Football, is Chelsea's Jose Mourinho, who makes $9.7 million in salary and bonuses, putting him ahead of Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson ($7.7 million), England coach Sven Goran Eriksson ($ 7.5 million) and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger ($5.7 million).
PLAYER, CLUB, ANNUAL EARNINGS
1. David Beckham, Real Madrid, $37.4 million
2. Ronaldo, Real Madrid, $25.3 million
3. Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid, $16.8 million
4. Christian Vieri, Inter Milan, $15.5 million
5. Alessandro Del Piero, Juventus, $12.3 million
6. Frank Lampard, Chelsea, $12.1 million
7. Raul, Real Madrid, $12 million
8. Thierry Henry, Arsenal, $11.9 million
9. John Terry, Chelsea, $11.1 million
10. Luis Figo, Real Madrid, $11 million
11. Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Man. Utd., $10.9 million
12. Ronaldinho, Barcelona, $10.6 million
13. Oliver Kahn, Bayern Munich, $10.4 million
14. Roy Keane, Man. Utd., $10.2 million
15. Patrick Vieira, Arsenal, $10.1 million
16. Michael Owen, Real Madrid, $9.7 million
17. Francesco Totti, Roma, $9.6 million
18. Sol Campbell, Arsenal, $9.4 million
19. Michael Ballack, Bayern Munich, $8.8 million
20. Rio Ferdinand, Man. Utd., $8.3 million
Source: France Football