Barcelona's Lionel Messi was again the highest-paid football player in the world in 2011, with a total income of €33 million derived from his salary, bonuses and commercial endorsements, according to the Football Rich List 2012 recently released by highly-respected France Football magazine.

Messi was followed by former England captain David Beckham and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, who earned €31.5 million and €29.2 million, respectively.

The earnings of the top 20 set a new record as tracked by the magazine.

With €14.8 million, Madrid's Jose Mourinho is the highest-earning manager in the game, according to the magazine.

Also read:Top 10 highest-paid soccer managers of 2012

China.org.cn has compiled the top 20 highest-paid football players in the world in 2011:

  Franck Ribéry  弗蘭克?里貝里

 

 Rank 2012:20;Earnings 2011:€11.6 million

Rank 2011:17;Earnings 2010:€11.9 million

Date of Birth:Apr. 7, 1983

Country:France

Club:Bayern Munich

Marital Status:Married (Wahiba)

Starting his football career at 6, Franck Ribéry is a French footballer who currently plays for German club Bayern Munich. He mainly serves as a winger and he himself prefers to play on the left side. He is also capable of playing as an attacking midfielder and creating goal opportunities for his teammates.

Ribéry always impresses the audience with his lightening pace, dribbling, cutting inside abilities and threatening passing. In Jun. 2007, Ribéry transferred from Marseille to Bayern Munich for €25 million on a four-year deal. Ribéry was named French Player of the Year in 2007 and 2008, and German Footballer of the Year in 2008. The footballer once claimed that he might be a descendant of the Emperor Jianwen of China's Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).