David Beckham is England's top earning footballer and is paid even more than England captain Alan Shearer, according to BusinessAge magazine. The magazine's poll of the world's top 25 football earners calculated that Beckham's annual earnings total £8.1 million, with Shearer commanding £7.75 million. However, their pay packets pale into insignificance when compared with Brazil's Ronaldo (21), who topped the poll with £20.5 million.

Beckham's earnings comprise a mixture of salary, sponsorship, endorsement offers, bonuses and investments. He is currently receiving £1.4 million a year from Adidas, £1 million from Brylcreem and £1.35 million basic salary on top of bonuses, signing-on fees and dozens of other incentives.