Global giant Ronaldo still rules as soccer's marketing king

Cristiano Ronaldo remains the world's most marketable soccer player, known by more than 80 percent of people around the world, according to a study released on Thursday.

The 30-year-old Real Madrid scorer beat out England's Wayne Rooney and Spain's Andres Iniesta on a new European top 10, according to the Repucom sports marketing firm.

Dutch forwards Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben and Italy's Andrea Pirlo round out the top six in Europe.

"In terms of overall marketability, globally, Ronaldo leaves the other European players in his wake," declared the firm which said 83 percent of people around the world - 85 percent of all men and 80 percent of all women - have heard of the Portuguese superstar.

It estimated Ronaldo earns between $34 million and $40 million a year from sponsors.

Rooney, the Manchester United striker, is known by 54 percent of people around the world and rakes in between $6 million and $8 million annually from sponsors. Iniesta is known by 48 percent of people and earns between $3 million and $5 million a year in sponsorship.

Van Persie and Robben both had a 46 percent global awareness ranking, according to the study of 6,500 people asked in 13 major soccer nations: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Britain, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Russia, Spain and the United States.

Pirlo was known by 41 percent of the consumers asked.

The top 10 was rounded out by Germany's Mesut Ozil and Mario Goetze in seventh and eighth and Gareth Bale of Wales, followed by Belgian Eden Hazard in 10th.

Even though they were less well known globally, Ozil, Goetze and Bale all had much higher sponsorship revenues than many of the top five.

Bale's annual sponsor earnings were estimated at $7 million to $9 million - more than Rooney - while Ozil's was $5 million to $6 million and Goetze $4 million to $4.5 million.

Iniesta is the most trusted player in the top 10, with a global trust approval of 71 percent of those polled, while the impetuous Ronaldo got 67 percent and Rooney was at 62 percent. Van Persie and Goetze were tied at second with 70 percent.

If Lionel Messi had been counted on the European list, he would have been beaten by Ronaldo, according to Repucom, known by 74 percent of people globally and 99 percent of Argentines.

Messi loses appeal

Meanwhile, Messi lost his appeal over tax fraud charges on Wednesday, meaning he could face a trial over the allegations which involve an estimated $6.5 million.

The Argentine superstar and his father, Jorge, were accused last year of not paying tax on earnings from the player's image rights from 2007-09.

Messi and his father denied wrongdoing and instead pointed the finger at a former agent. But prosecutors in Barcelona decided to press ahead with the case.

"While it is understandable that a player of this magnitude is not aware of all the details of managing a millionaire, there are elements of a fiscal debt," said a statement from the prosecutors.

Messi and his father have been accused of using companies in Belize and Uruguay to sell the player's rights - an allegation the player denies.

Jorge has since admitted his son knew nothing of the alleged fraud but the appeals court rejected the defense.

"Messi could have had knowledge of the irregularities of contracts which he was signing," said the statement.

Forbes magazine estimated four-time World Player of the Year Messi earned $64.7 million in 2014.