Highly respected magazine France Football has released its annual list of the highest earners in world football on wages alone.

Following a scintillating week, where he has scored eight goals in three games, few will begrudge Lionel Messi for earning 33 million euros a year from Barcelona and coming top of the list.

The Argentinean schemer comfortably tops David Beckham ’s current annual salary at LA Galaxy of 30.4 million euros a year.

France Football have also announced the highest paid coaches in the game with Inter Milan’s Jose Mourinho leading the list on 13 million euros a season. Former Chelsea boss Luis Felipe Scolari came third on 9.5 million a year at Bunyodkor in Uzbekistan.

They have also listed Ligue 1’s top earning players with former Manchester United and Real Madrid defender Gabriel Heinze leading the French top division on 4.5 million euros a season.

Heinze comes ahead of Bordeaux’s Yoann Goucuff (4.4 million euros) and Marseille’s Lucho Gonzalez (4.3 million euros).

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