The Premier League's multi-millionaires have been put in the shade in the global pay stakes, according to a new study
Despite the ever-growing ranks of mega-rich footballers, Sporting Intelligence's annual review of global salaries ranks the Premier League just fourth among the world's sports leagues.
The report analyses the salary of first-team players across the globe's top competitions, with basketball's NBA setting the pace with an average wage in excess of £50,000 per week.
Cricket's Indian Premier League is a surprise entry in second place, with average salaries pushed skywards by the relatively short six-week season. Major League Baseball also finishes ahead of the Premier League, which is the best-paid football league in the world with average weekly pay of £28,230.
Nick Harris, editor of sportingintelligence.com and author of the report, said: "The findings will come as a surprise to anyone who thinks the Premier League is the best paid division in world sport because it's far from the case.
"I found wages higher than expected in cricket and Japanese baseball and lower in American football and parts of the Premier League."
Chelsea are the only Premier League side in the top 10 best-paying clubs, but their average pay packet of £68,946 per week is dwarfed by Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid - who last summer made Cristiano Ronaldo the richest player in the world when they signed him from Manchester United for £80 million.
Big-spending baseball outfit the New York Yankees top the pile, lavishing an average £89,897 per week on stars such as Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter - although their massive outlay brought them World Series glory last October.
Highest paying sports leagues (average weekly salary per starting player)
1- NBA (basketball) - £50,847
2- IPL (cricket) - £48,243
3- MLB (baseball) - £35,147
4- Premier League - £28,230
5- NFL (American football) - £22,506
Highest paying sports teams (average weekly salary per starting player)
1- New York Yankees (MLB) - £89,897
2- Real Madrid (Liga) - £81,444
3- Barcelona (Liga) - £78,231
4- Chelsea (Premier League) - £68,946
5- Dallas Mavericks (NBA) - £68,343
6- LA Lakers (NBA) - £65,563
7- Detroit Pistons (NBA) - £64,234
8- Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA) - £63,529
9- Boston Celtics (NBA) - £62,813
10-New York Knicks (NBA) - £59,120
