Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid

   2011 earning: €27.5 million

Cristiano Ronaldo [vnet.cn]

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, commonly known as Cristiano Ronaldo, born in 1985, is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a winger or a forward for Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and serves as captain of the Portuguese national team. At the age of eight, Ronaldo played for amateur team Andorinha; and in June 2009, he became the most expensive player in football history after moving from Manchester United to Real Madrid in a transfer deal worth ￡80 million.

Ronaldo has won FWA Footballer of the Year twice (2007 and 2008), PFA Players' Player of the Year twice (2007 and 2008), FIFPro World Player of the Year in 2008, World Soccer Player of the Year in 2008, and FIFA World Player of the Year in 2008.