Messi Emerges As World's Highest Paid footballer

Lionel Messi (left) emerges world's highest paid footballer for 2015 ahead of his rival, Cristiano Ronaldo (right). Barcelona and Argentina striker, Lionel Messi has emerged the highest paid footballer in 2015 ahead of his Portuguese arch rival, Cristiano Ronaldo.

In the ESPN Magazine's survey released today, May 21, 2015, Lionel Messi's estimated total earnings was put at $56.3m, $6m more than Ronaldo's.

World Welterweight Boxing Champion, American Floyd Mayweather emerged the overall winner with an estimated $250m earnings while Manny Pacquiao placed 2>nd with $150m.

In placing 3^rd, Messi leads three other footballers, including Ronaldo whose estimated earnings was put at $50.2m while Paris Saint Germain striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Manchester United star, Wayne Rooney occupied the 7th and 12th positions with $35.1m and $26m respectively.

Check out the full list below;

World's Highest-Paid Athletes

RANK	ATHLETE	LEAGUE/TEAM	EARNINGS
1	Floyd Mayweather	WBA/WBC champion	$250M (a)
2	Manny Pacquiao	Former WBO champion	$150M (a)
3	Lionel Messi	La Liga/Barcelona	$56.3M
4	Cristiano Ronaldo	La Liga/Real Madrid	$50.2M
5	Sebastian Vettel	Formula 1/Ferrari	$50M
6	Fernando Alonso	Formula 1/McLaren	$40M
7	Zlatan Ibrahimovic	Ligue 1/PSG	$35.1M
8	Lewis Hamilton	Formula 1/Mercedes	$31M
8	Clayton Kershaw	MLB/LA Dodgers	$31M
10	Justin Verlander	MLB/Detroit Tigers	$28M
11	Zack Greinke	MLB/LA Dodgers	$27M
12	Wayne Rooney	EPL/Manchester United	$26M
13	Josh Hamilton	MLB/Texas Rangers	$25M
13	Ryan Howard	MLB/Philadelphia Phillies	$25M
13	Cliff Lee	MLB/Philadelphia Phillies	$25M