The world's best-paid sports teams

Barcelona's players are the best paid in the world according to a new report. The team kept its No. 1 place on the earnings table with each player taking home an average annual salary of $8.6 million (£5.2 million). That's a whopping $166,934 (£101,160) per week and a 10% rise on last year.

Spanish football teams continued to dominate the rankings, with Real Madrid keeping its No. 2 spot. It's players earned an average $7.7 million (£4.7 million) - a 6% rise on last year. Cristiano Ronaldo became the most expensive footballer in history in 2009 after moving from Manchester United to Real Madrid in a six-year deal worth $129 million (£80 million).

Manchester City moved up the rankings from 10th last year to 3rd in 2012, thanks to an average annual salary of $7.4 million for its players. It's a 26% increase on last year and demonstrates the wealth of the English club's owner Sheikh Monsour.

Russian billionaire Roman Abromovich's Chelsea team climbed the rankings from sixth to fourth, with players earning around $6.7 million a year -- the equivalent of $130,690 a week.

The first non-soccer entry in the rich list is the LA Lakers. The Americans are also the only bastketballers in the top 10, with players taking home $6.2 million annually -- about $120,732 per week.

Baseball's New York Yankees have continued to fall in the rankings -- dropping from No. 1 in 2010 to sixth this year. But the MLB team's players can still take comfort from an average yearly salary of $6.1 million -- around £118,968 a week.

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi pumped even more money into his football club AC Milan last year. The Serie A champions rose from 14th in the list with players enjoying a yearly salary of $6.1 million, pocketing $117,399 per week.

Also rising in the rich list was Germany's Bayern Munich, up from 12th place last year. Players boasted a yearly salary of $5.9 million, taking home $113,609 a week.

The Philadelphia Phillies are one of just three U.S. teams in the top 10. The baseball franchise's players earned an average $5.8 million a year, or $111,884 per week.

Internazionale sneaked into the top 10 with an average yearly salary of $5.7 million for its players. It's a family affair for Italian oil tycoon Massimo Moratti, whose father Angelo also owned the club in the 1950s and '60s.

HIDE CAPTION

1. Barcelona FC $8.6 million average

2. Real Madrid $7.7 million

3. Manchester City $7.4 million

4. Chelsea $6.7 million

5. LA Lakers $6.2 million

6. New York Yankees $6.1 million

7. AC Milan $6.1 million

8. Bayern Munich $5.9 million

9. Philadelphia Phillies $5.8 million

10. Inter Milan $5.7 million

<<

<

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

>

>>

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Barcelona is best-paid sports team, with players earning average of $8.6 million a year
• European football clubs dominate the list, taking seven of top 10 spots
• Raises questions over the effectiveness of UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations
• NBA is is still best-paid league in the world with average annual salaries of $4.29 million

(CNN) -- If Barcelona's players were driven to tears after last week's shock Champions League exit, they could at least rely on pocketfuls of cash to ease the pain.

Sure, the world's best football team has slipped from its throne in recent weeks after losing to Chelsea in a nail-biting European semifinal at Camp Nou and also relinquishing the Spanish crown to Real Madrid.

But hold your pity. This, after all, is the best-paid team on the planet, with each of its players earning an average $8.6 million a year according to a new report -- a 10% increase on the previous year.

Losing hurts. But the Spanish team, led by record-breaking goal scorer Lionel Messi, can take some comfort in pocketing an average $166,934 each in wages every week.

The two-time FIFA Club World Cup champions top the list of the highest-paid sports teams, revealed by researchers Sporting Intelligence. The report looked at the average salaries of 278 teams in 14 leagues across 10 countries.

Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic and Novak Djokovic of Serbia will be hoping to defend their Wimbledon titles in July -- earning a 4.5% increase in prize money if they do. Singles champions will now receive £1.15 millon ($1.85 million).

Rafael Nadal ruined Britain's hopes of a home finalist after defeating Andy Murray in the 2011 semis. Both were part of the "Big Four" who helped secure pay increases. Semifinalists will now take home £287,500 ($463,336) -- up 4.5%.

Jo-Wilifried Tsonga of France delivered one of the biggest upsets of the 2011 tournament, knocking out six-time champion Roger Federer in the quarterfinals. Quarterfinalists will now earn £145,000 ($233,720) -- an increase of 5.5%.

World No. 2 Nadal beat Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in the last 16 before losing in the final. Fourth-round losers will this year earn £75,000 ($120,825) -- an increase of 9.1%.

Russian third seed Vera Zvonareva suffered a shock third-round exit in last year's against Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova. A similar achievement this year would earn her £33,875 ($54,630) -- an increase of 13.1%.

Germany's Sabine Lisicki drops to her knees after defeating French Open champ Li Na in the second round of last year's tournament. Under this year's schedule, the Chinese player would have made £23,125 ($37,302) -- a 14.9% rise.

Italy's Francesca Schiavone, a first-round loser in 2010, redeemed herself last year by beating Australia's Jelena Dokic. Those who drop out at the first hurdle this year will take home £14,500 ($23,389) -- the biggest increase of all rounds at 26.1%.

Wimbledon champions - £1.15 million

Semifinal - £287,500

Quarterfinal - £145,000

Fourth round - £75,000

Third round - £38,875

Second round - £23,125

First round - £14,500

HIDE CAPTION

<<

<

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

>

>>

Wimbledon stars' pay increase

Balotelli's first-team debut came in December 2007 as a subsitute with Internazionale. Three days later the 17-year-old scored two goals during Inter's 4-1 Coppa Italia win against Reggina.

Balotelli became the youngest Inter player to score in the Champions League in November 2008 when he netted against Cyprus's Anorthosis Famagusta. He was 18 at the time.

Man City signed Balotelli from Inter for £24m in August 2010. The deal was made under manager Robert Mancini who this week hinted the player may be sold unless he reels in his controversial behavior.

Balotelli is red-carded after a foul on Arsenal's Barcary Sagna on Sunday. Man City lost the match 1-0, with manager Robert Mancini later saying: "It's clear he's created big problems, but he's scored important goals."

Berlotelli's off-pitch antics have taken their toll on the squad with manager Robert Mancini admitting last week he'd punch the forward in the head if they were teammates. It's been a rocky year for the 21-year-old who caused severe damage when he let off fireworks in his bathroom and on Thursday crashed his Bentley in Manchester.

A promising start for Inter Milan

Balotelli makes Inter history

A love/hate relationship?

Balotelli sees red again

Headline maker on and off the pitch

HIDE CAPTION

<<

<

1

2

3

4

5

>

>>

The highs and lows of Mario Balotelli

City wins soccer battle for Manchester

Real Madrid followed close behind in second place with its players earning an average $8.6 million a year. That's a whopping $166,934 per week and a 6% rise on last year.

European soccer teams dominated the list, claiming seven of the top 10 spots. And as their billionaire owners continue to spend big on top-level players, traditional American sports such as baseball and basketball are being pushed down the list.

Despite not winning a English league title since 1968, Manchester City moved up the earnings rankings from 10th to third this year -- largely thanks to the oil-rich deep pockets of owner Sheikh Mansour.

The Abu Dhabi United Group chief has spent hundreds of millions of pounds on star players since buying the club in August 2008.

City players now enjoy average annual salaries of $7.4 million, or around $142,389 per week. And after defeating rivals Manchester United in a Premier League battle watched by 600 million people worldwide on Tuesday, Mansour will be hoping to see returns on his mega investments.

Likewise Russian billionaire Roman Abromovich will be eager for his Chelsea team -- which climbed from sixth to fourth on the rich list -- to earn their keep and deliver a Champions League title in the May 19 final. His players currently boast an average $6.7 million a year -- around $130,690 a week.

Judging by the million-dollar football salaries, you'd be forgiven for thinking the UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations -- agreed in 2009 as a way of controlling clubs' ever-rising expenditure -- had done little to stem spending.

"It is possible but by no means certain that some wage restraint at some European football clubs is on the horizon as a result of new Financial Fair Play rules being introduced by UEFA, the governing body of football across Europe. But the effectiveness of UEFA's policing remains to be seen," the Sporting Intelligence report found.

The biggest, richest clubs will almost certainly continue to generate massive sums, and therefore continue to fund growing salary bills
Sports Intelligence

"And in any case, the biggest, richest clubs will almost certainly continue to generate massive sums, and therefore continue to fund growing salary bills."

American basketball franchise the LA Lakers are the first non-football team on the list, coming in at fifth with an average yearly salary of $6.2 million -- or $120,732 per week.

Next is baseball's New York Yankees in sixth place, having been top when the list was originally published two years ago. The report's authors say the plummet is partly due to wages being restricted in the U.S. since 2010, while in Europe the amounts spent on top players continues to rise.

Rounding out the top 10 were baseball's Philadelphia Phillies, earning an average $5.8 million a year, and Italian soccer team Inter Milan on $5.7 million.

Despite the NBA claiming just two teams in the top-24, basketball is still the best-paid league in the world with players earning average annual salaries of $4.29 million.

In comparison, Spain's La Liga is skewed towards the top end with Barcelona players earning 22 times more than the lowest teams in the 20-club league.

Figures are from the in-progress seasons in NBA basketball, NHL ice hockey, MLB baseball and MLS football, and from the most recently completed seasons for all other teams, including the major leagues of European football, AFL Aussie Rules and NPB Japanese baseball.

Share this on:

Facebook Twitter Digg delicious reddit MySpace StumbleUpon LinkedIn Viadeo

We recommend

You might like:

• Torres' Chelsea future in doubt after 'biggest disappointment' (CNN International - Sports)
• Cristiano Ronaldo: I'm better than Messi (CNN International - Sports)
• 20 seasons: The English Premier League's greatest? (CNN International - Sports)
• Senior Ukrainian Olympic official suspended after ticket row (CNN International - Sports)
• Fiorentina coach Rossi sacked for attacking player (CNN International - Sports)
• Fans vs. oligarchs in Champions League battle for football's soul (CNN International - Sports)

From around the web

Selected for you by our sponsor:

• America's Cup Day 1: World's best set sail in Venice (Red Bull)
• The Real Reason Why Kate Isn't Pregnant Yet? (The Daily Beast)
• Mark Zuckerberg's surprise wedding: Why now? (TheWeek)
• Buffett's $5.1 Billion "Missing" Paycheck (StreetAuthority)
• When and Why to End a Relationship (You Beauty)
• Wedding Hairstyles for 2012 (Bangstyle)