

×

1. Cristiano Ronaldo

Soccer | Portugal

Salary/winnings: $53M

Endorsements: $27M

Facebook likes: 110.8M

Twitter followers: 41.5M

IT'S GOOD TO BE

The Madeira-born Portuguese knows he is breathtakingly handsome, gifted and wonderful (even if he can't quite persuade us he's as good as Leo Messi). Yet it's nice for him to be reminded of his greatness by wandering round a museum that he's bankrolled on the island to be a shiny shrine to himself. In its midst stands a life-size waxwork of CR7 himself.

Ronaldo vs. Messi: Different kinds of fame »

PEAK MOMENT

He was bought by Real Madrid to win "la decima," their long-cherished 10th European Cup, and his extra-time penalty against Atletico Madrid in 2014 sealed the deal at the end of a Champions League campaign in which he scored a record 17 goals. It also allowed him the chance to strip off and pose like a muscle man -- an act he never needs to be asked twice to perform. It was a similar scene over the weekend when Ronaldo peeled off his jersey triumphantly after delivering the penalty kick that clinched Real Madrid's 11th Champions League title.

JUST SAYING

"It's opinions. Maybe in your opinion Messi is better than me. But in my mind I am better than him. So it's simple." -- Ronaldo

-- Ian Chadband