Cristiano Ronaldo named world's most marketable footballer with Barcelona pair Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique in top three

Having helped Real Madrid finally achieve La Decima this season, star man Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the world's most marketable footballer by global sports market research experts 'Repucom'.

Lionel Messi, often labelled the world's best player along with Ronaldo, is second in the list while his Barcelona team-mate Gerard Pique makes a surprise entry in the top three. 

Perhaps the biggest eyebrow-raiser in the list, however, is Fernando Torres' ranking of fourth in the table. The Chelsea frontman has struggled for form at Stamford Bridge following his £50million transfer from Liverpool in January 2011.

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Champion of Europe: Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the world's most marketable footballer in the world

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Flying high: Lionel Messi is the world's second most marketable footballer and earns around £16million a year

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On the podium: Spain defender Gerard Pique comes third on the list having won everything in the game

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Top ten: The most marketable footballer rankings have been created by market research experts 'Repucom'

Rooney and team-mates put through rugby-style training session

 

 

Wayne Rooney makes the top five on the list - the Manchester United star has 20million Facebook fans and will be England's best-known player at this summer's World Cup.

Ronaldo, who has a staggering 82 million fans on Facebook and 26million followers on Twitter, won his second FIFA Ballon d'Or earlier this year and is also seen as the best 'trend-setter' with 82.5 per cent of those asked saying the Portugal international reflects trends in today's society. The 29-year-old, who recently posed with girlfriend Irina Shayk, is also known by 83.9 per cent of people globally.

The Argentine, who has won the Ballon d'Or four times, has been Barcelona's talisman during their dominance in recent years and is the world's best-paid star earning around £16million a year.

Pique, meanwhile, has been equally as impressive at the back for the Spanish giants having signed for the club back in 2008.

The Spain international has won everything in the game, including three Champions League trophies and the FIFA World Cup in 2010.

However, Pique's fame is heightened further to due to the fact he is married to Colombian pop star Shakira having met the singer whilt filming a music video for her song: ''Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)', which was the official song of the World Cup held four years ago.

Over 58 per cent of people around the globe have heard of the centre back while 97 per cent of the population in his home country are aware of who Pique is.

Messi and Pique star in Shakira's World Cup video

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Globally famous: Wayne Rooney, who makes the top five, will be England's best-known player at the World Cup

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Model professional: Ronaldo and girlfrend Irina Shayk appeared on the front cover of Vogue Spain