Messi is the highest paid footballer

Barcelona striker Lionel Messi is the highest-paid player in the world, while Jose Mourinho, is the highest-paid manager.

According to a survey by France Football magazine, the Argentine makes £27 million a year, accumulated through salary and publicity deals, and his lavish salary is a solid £3 million more than Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.

In comparison, Wayne Rooney, third on the money list, makes £18m per annum, while old-timers David Beckham and Thierry Henry are raking in the cash in the USA playing for LA Galaxy and the New York Red Bulls respectively. Brand Beckham is making £16.5m while the Frenchman brings home £11.8m.

Mourinho tops the list for managers internationally, making £11.7 million per annum, while Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola is slightly behind with £9.1 million.

Interestingly enough, Rafael Benitez still made £8.9 million despite leaving Inter Milan in December 2010 on acrimonious circumstances, while Fabio Capello takes home £7.4 million even as England crashed out of the 2010 World Cup without even making the quarter-finals.