Becks on top with €22.4m

ENGLAND captain David Beckham has become the top paid footballer in the world, earning €22.4m last year, bi-weekly soccer magazine France Football reported last night.

The 28-year-old Real Madrid player’s revenue was amassed from €6.4m paid by his club, bonuses of €100,000, advertising deals estimated at €11.4m, advances for his autobiography worth €3m and €1.5m for his Asian tour.

The England star leads two other Real Madrid players in the earnings stakes, Brazilian striker Ronaldo and French midfielder Zinedine Zidane who earned €16.5 and €14m respectively.

Michael Owen is the highest-paid Premiership player according to the report, the Liverpool striker earns €9.1m while Thierry Henry, whose goals have been instrumental in winning Arsenal the Premiership this season is on €8.4m.

Alex Ferguson is the top paid manager, with the Manchester United boss earning €8.6m, ahead of England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, the second highest paid with €5.5m, and AS Roma’s Fabio Capello on €4.1m.

Arsene Wenger who led Arsenal to the Premiership title earned €3.4m.