Top 10 highest earning footballers - with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi on top

Ronaldo and Messi are the top two (Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Cristiano Ronaldo has pipped Lionel Messi to the crown of the highest-earning footballer in the world in a new list revealed by Forbes.

A combination of his wages and prize money for playing on the pitch and endorsements off it sees Ronaldo's earnings reach a staggering £85.8million in 2020, ensuring that he is behind only Roger Federer when it comes to the world's highest-earning sports stars.

Messi is third on that list but second when it comes to footballers, with his fortune of £83.4million slightly reduced by Barcelona's decision to cut their squad's wages amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

Next on the list is Neymar in third with a cool £76.6million, with the Brazilian earning some £20million when it comes to his endorsement deals.

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah is next on the list to make him to the highest-earning Premier League player, but the Egyptian's reserves are dwarfed by the top three.

Salah is raking in £28.2million this calendar year, but is said to be in line for even more in endorsement deals when Liverpool are finally able to get their hands on the Premier League trophy.

The top 10 highest paid footballers in 2020 (Forbes)

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) - £85.8m

2. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - £83.4m

3. Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain) - £76.6m

4. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) - £28.2m

5. Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain) - £27.1m

6. Andres Iniesta (Vissel Kobe) - £23.7m

7. Mesut Ozil (Arsenal) - £23m

8. Paul Pogba (Manchester United) - £22.8m

9. Oscar (Shanghai SIPG) - £22m

10. Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona) - £21.4m

Kylian Mbappe is next on the list earning some £27.1million in 2020, and at just 21 years of age the French World Cup winner has plenty of time on his side in order to rake in more cash over what looks to be a long and successful career.

The rest of the top five of current active players is made up of Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta, who is these days with Vissel Kobe in Japan, Arsenal's Mesut Ozil, Manchester United's Paul Pogba, Shanghai SIPG's ex-Chelsea man Oscar and Barcelona star Antoine Griezmann.