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.