Manchester United midfielder David Beckham is the best-paid player in the world with annual wages estimated at €15 million, according to a survey published today.
The respected magazine France Footballsaid a contract signed by Beckham with the new English champions had allowed him to overtake Real Madrid's Zinedine Zidane.
The French playmaker comes second with yearly earnings estimated at €14 million with Brazilian team mate Ronaldo third on €11.7 million.
But the England captain was criticised by Chelsea defender Marcel Desailly, who said Beckham was more of a showbiz personality than a soccer figure.
"David Beckham is no longer in the soccer world but he is an integral part of show business," the France captain told the magazine.
"His wife is already part of showbiz circles and he's surrounded by people who give him advice, from the shoes he should wear to whether he should get a tattoo.
"Beckham has left the context of traditional football while players like Zidane or Ronaldo refuse to."
Real Madrid and Inter Milan both have four in the top 20 of the world's best-paid players and Manchester United three. The 20 best paid soccer players in the world according to the survey are:
1.
David Beckham(Manchester United) €15 million
2. Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid) €14 million
3. Ronaldo (Real Madrid) 11.7 million
4.
Rio Ferdinand(Manchester United) €9.62 million
5. Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus) €9.55 million
6. Hidetoshi Nakata (Parma) €9.36 million
7. Raul (Real Madrid) €9.30 million
8. Christian Vieri (Inter Milan) €9.28 million
9.
Michael Owen(Liverpool) €8.90 million
10.
Roy Keane(Manchester United) €8.65 million
11. Luis Figo (Real Madrid) €8.60 million
12. Gabriel Batistuta (Inter Milan) €8.60 million
13.
Sol Campbell(Arsenal) €8.10 million
14. Oliver Kahn (Bayern Munich) €7.65 million
15. Alvaro Recoba (Inter Milan) €7.60 million
16. Francesco Totti (AS Roma) €7.30 million
17. Rivaldo (AC Milan) €7.20 million
18.
Thierry Henry(Arsenal) €6.20 million
19. Fabio Cannavaro (Inter Milan) €6.08 million
20. Paolo Maldini (AC Milan) €6 million.