Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi smiles during a friendly football match between FC Barcelona and Nastic at the Johan Cruyff stadium in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona, on Sept 12, 2020. (PAU BARRENA / AFP)

LONDON - Lionel Messi was denied a potentially money-spinning move away from Barcelona this month after a contract-dispute but the Argentine maestro remains the world’s richest soccer player.

Neymar comes in third on the Forbes list (US$96 million) with his Paris St Germain team mate, 21-year-old Kylian Mbappe, up in fourth spot (US$42 million)

According to a list compiled by Forbes, Messi’s total earnings this year are US$126 million -- US$92 million from his salary and US$34 million in endorsements.

Not surprisingly Cristiano Ronaldo comes in second although earnings of US$117 million will soften the blow for the Juventus forward, as will his status as the most followed soccer player in the world on social media.

Neymar comes in third on the Forbes list (US$96 million) with his Paris St Germain team mate, 21-year-old Kylian Mbappe, up in fourth spot (US$42 million).

Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo (left) shoots past Sweden's defender Filip Helander (center) and Sweden's defender Pontus Jansson during the UEFA Nations League football match between Sweden and Portugal on Sept 8, 2020 in Solna, Sweden. (JONATHAN NACKSTRAND / AFP)

The Premier League remains the world’s richest domestic soccer league but only two of its outfield players feature in the top 10 of the wealth table -- Liverpool’s title-winning striker Mohamed Salah in fifth spot (US$37 million) and Manchester United’s midfielder Paul Pogba (US$34 million) in sixth. Pogba’s team mate, keeper David de Gea (US$27 million) is 10th.

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Barcelona’s Antoine Griezmann was seventh and Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale eighth. Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, the only Bundesliga player, in ninth.

Messi reluctantly agreed to stay at Barcelona for another season this month, despite saying in the wake of an 8-2 Champions League defeat by Bayern Munich that he wanted out.

Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Neymar walks off the pitch after a red card during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Marseille (OM) at the Parc de Princes stadium in Paris on Sept 13, 2020. (FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

He argued that a clause in his contract stating that a 700 million euros release fee would need to be met for him to join another club was no longer active and that he could leave on a free transfer -- a situation that would have allowed him to command astronomical wages from the likes of Manchester City.

Messi, 33, is in the final year of his contract so could leave for free next summer. By staying with the Catalan club, Messi is in line for an US$83 million loyalty bonus so it is likely he will continue to top the money charts.