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Barcelona's Lionel Messi, right, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Champions League round of 16, 2nd leg, soccer match between FC Barcelona and Olympique Lyon at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, March 13, 2019. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)Associated Press
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Lionel Messi takes the top spot on Forbes' 2019 list of the 100 highest-paid athletes in the world.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar join Messi in the top 3. It is the first time three soccer players have the top three spots on the list.
There are 12 soccer players in total on the list. Each makes more than $25 million.
Contract: Five years, $15 million (€13.3 million) annually
The last soccer player on the list at No. 99, Salah signed a five-year deal with Liverpool in July 2018. He's been the Premier League's top goal scorer, earning him the Golden Boot award for the past two seasons.
Salah helped his team to a second consecutive UEFA Champions League Final in 2019.
11. Gareth Bale - $27.1 million (€24 million)
Team: Real Madrid
Contract: Six years, $33 million (€29.2 million) annually
Bale joined Real Madrid in 2013 and signed an extension three years later through June 2022.
In 2018, Bale scored two goals off the bench to lead Real Madrid to its third straight UEFA Champions League victory.
He's ranked No. 79 among all athletes.
10. Antoine Griezmann - $27.7 million (€24.5 million)
He played an important role during the 2018 World Cup for France, scoring or setting up eight of the 14 goals that led the team to victory.
9. Oscar - $29 million (€25.6 million)
Team: Shanghai SIPG
Contract: Four years, $26.5 million (€23.4 million) annually
Oscar rose to popularity during his five years with Chelsea, but in 2017 he made a surprising decision to sign with Shanghai SIPG of the Chinese Super League.
The lucrative deal quadrupled his weekly take-home pay. He's ranked No. 66 by Forbes.
8. Mesut Ozil - $30.2 million (€26.7 million)
Team: Arsenal
Contract: Three years, $24 million (€21.2 million) annually
Ranked No. 27 by Forbes, Ozil joined Arsenal in 2013 and signed a three-year extension in 2018 that doubled his annual pay.
Ozil also has two professional esports teams – one to compete in EA Sports FIFA competitions and another for Fornite.
7. Kylian Mbappe - $30.6 million (€27.1 million)
Team: Paris Saint-Germain
Contract: Three years, $20 million (€17.7 million) annually
Mbappe became the youngest French player at 19 years old to score in a World Cup and second-youngest in a World Cup Final in 2018. He joined Paris Saint-Germain on loan in 2017 and signed a contract with the team in 2018.
He is ranked No. 55 by Forbes.
The forward donated his $500,000 (€442,000) World Cup bonus to a charity that organizes sporting events for disabled children. He won the 2018 World Cup Best Young Player award in 2018.
Contract: Four 1/2 years, $21.5 million (€19 million) annually
Sanchez was moved from Arsenal to Manchester United in 2018. He scored just six goals and had five assists in 37 appearances in his first full season as he struggled with injuries.
Sanchez also plays a leading role in the 2019 film 'Mi Amigo Alexis' about a young Chilean boy who dreams of following in his hero's footsteps.
5. Andres Iniesta - $32.5 million (€28.7 million)
Team: Vissel Kobe
Contract: Three years, $30 million annually (€26.5 million)
Iniesta spent 22 years with Barcelona, including three as captain, before retiring from the national side and joining Japan's Vissel Kobe in 2018.
He's ranked No. 46 on Forbes' list.
Iniesta has a winery that began production in 2010, including a bottle named Minuto 116 for the minute he scored Spain's title-winning goal in the 2010 World Cup.
4. Paul Pogba - $33 million (€29.2 million)
Team: Manchester United
Contract: Five years, $20 million annually (€17.7 million)
Pogba sits at the No. 44 spot on Forbes' list. He returned to Manchester United in 2016 after four years with Juventus.
Contract: Five years, $350 million (€309.4 million)
Neymar signed with Paris Saint-Germain in 2017. His transfer from Barcelona was the most expensive in the world at $263 million (€232.5 million). The French club paid that amount in full before his signing.
Neymar is the second most popular athlete on social media behind Ronaldo.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo - $109 million (€96.4 million)
Team: Juventus
Contract: 4 years, $64 million (€56.5 million) annually
After nine years with Real Madrid, Ronaldo signed a four-year deal with Juventus in 2018. His Juventus jersey made over $60 million (€53 million) with 520,000 sales within 24 hours.
The five-time FIFA Play of the Year is the all-time leading goal scorer in the UEFA Champions League and the most followed athlete on social media.
1. Lionel Messi - $127 million (112.3 million)
Team: FC Barcelona
Contract: Four years, $80 million (€70 million) annually
Messi signed a new contract with Barcelona in 2017 that keeps him in the Spanish club through 2021. His exact contract details weren't released at the time, but he is receiving $80 million (€70 million) per season, according to El Mundo, via EuroSport.
He also has a lifelong deal with Adidas.
Since his first match with Barcelona in 2004, Messi has accumulated 33 club titles in 687 matches.
