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Ronaldinho Ends Beckham's 3-Year Stint Atop Soccer's Rich List
Ronaldinho, the world footballer of the year who calls himself ``ugly but nice,'' ended David Beckham's three-year tenure as soccer's richest player, according to France Football magazine's annual rich list. The buck-toothed Brazilian playmaker's earnings more than tripled in the last year to 23 million euros ($28.5 million), 5 million euros more than Beckham's, the magazine said. Ronaldinho, 26, is earning more from advertising as his trickery with the ball -- described last week as ``incredible'' by former Germany World Cup winner Franz Beckenbauer -- helps achieve success for Barcelona. England captain David Beckham, who turns 31 next month, hasn't won a trophy since joining Real Madrid three years ago. Ronaldinho's growing endorsement portfolio includes PepsiCo Inc., Nike Inc., Cadbury Schweppes Plc and Groupe Danone. He got 14 million euros from 15 advertising contracts, 8.5 million euros in salary from Barcelona and a 500,000-euro bonus the last year, according to France Football. His relative youth and success will mean his appeal to advertisers will keep growing, Omnicom Group Inc.'s BBDO said March 31 after putting his brand value at 47 million euros, 2.1 million euros more than Beckham's. Ronaldinho is on the verge of leading Barcelona to its second straight Spanish league title and, if it defends a 1-0 lead against AC Milan, a place in the Champions League final. He'll also seek to help Brazil win its second straight World Cup from June 9-July 9. Worst Run A follower of fashion married to a former Spice Girls pop singer, Beckham is set to see his stint at Real Madrid coincide with its worst run in 53 years, and the England captain may play at his last World Cup this year. Vodafone Group Plc, the world's largest cellular-phone company, last July said it wouldn't renew its three-year endorsement accord with Beckham. He continues to endorse sporting-goods maker Adidas-Salomon AG and perfume maker Coty Inc. among other companies. Beckham's earnings dropped to 18 million euros from 25 million euros in the last year, according to France Football. Figures are in millions of euros:
PLAYER SALARY TOTAL
1. Ronaldinho 8.5 23.0
2. David Beckham 6.4 18.0
3. Ronaldo 6.4 17.4
4. Wayne Rooney 5.2 16.1
5. Christian Vieri 4.0 16.0
6. Zinedine Zidane 6.4 15.0
7. Alessandro del Piero 4.2 11.5
8. Frank Lampard 7.2 9.8
9. Thierry Henry 4.5 9.8
10. John Terry 5.9 9.7
11. Steven Gerrard 6.7 9.2
12. Oliver Kahn 6.0 9.1
13. Rio Ferdinand 7.2 9.0
14. Raul Gonzalez 6.4 8.9
15. Michael Owen 5.0 8.7
16. Ruud van Nistelrooy 6.4 8.5
17. Francesco Totti 5.6 8.4
18. Michael Ballack 5.5 8.4
19. Harry Kewell 5.7 7.9
20. Patrick Vieira 5.0 7.5
Zidane to retire after World Cup
Zinedine Zidane has announced his decision to retire after the World Cup soccer finlas in June, bringing down the curtain on a glittering career.
The French midfielder, who'll be 34 in June, was the architect of France's victories in the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, and the scorer of a sublime winning goal in Real Madrid's triumph in the 2002 Champions League final.
FIFA's three-time world player of the year is still the most expensive signing in the history of the sport, having been signed by Real Madrid from Juventus five years ago for 66-million US dollars.
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