Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are the highest paid footballers in the world. The difference between what they earn is slight. More accurately, Ronaldo earned $2 million more for producing a combined 71 goals and assists in 2015 versus Messi’s combined total of 70, and earned $3 million more for promoting his brand and sponsors to 82 million more fans than Messi has on social media.
