World Cup: Meet soccer's 10 biggest stars

1.Christiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

Considered the best soccer player in the world these days, Christiano Ronaldo is also the most marketable "footballer" in the game. The Portuguese soccer star tops the list of the 10 most recognizable players in the world, according to a new ranking by sports marketing firm Repucom. The list comes days before the FIFA World Cup kicks off June 12 in Brazil. An estimated 3.2 billion people are expected to watch the month-long tournament, making the World Cup a bonanza for global advertisers. These are the players with the highest potential to land lucrative contracts with corporate sponsors such as Nike and Adidas. With 82 million Facebook likes and 26 million Twitter followers, Ronaldo is "an endorser's dream," said Repucom CEO Paul Smith. Ronaldo, captain of Spain's Real Madrid, has a deal with Nike (NKE, Fortune 500) worth an estimated $9.5 million a year, along with sponsorships by Herbalife (HLF) and Yum! Brand's (YUM, Fortune 500) KFC.

2. Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Lionel Messi has scored more than 350 goals as a forward for FC Barcelona, making him the club's top scorer ever.

The 26 year-old Argentine soccer star, who earns roughly $27.5 million a year, is also the best paid player in the world.

On top of that, he has plenty of big endorsements. Messi has a deal with Adidas (ADDDF) worth an estimated $9 million per year. He also has contracts with Turkish Airlines, Pepsi (PEP, Fortune 500) and Dolce & Gabbana.

3. Gerard Piqué (Spain)

Gerard Piqué has won most of soccer's top championships as a player for Manchester United and FC Barcelona. But his brand has also benefited from his associations off the pitch.

Piqué has been in a relationship with the Columbian singer Shakira for the past few years, which means he "enjoys a heightened level of global public awareness," according to Repucom he says Piqué is seen as a "cheerful family man," which makes him seem trustworthy and helps boost his marketability. Piqué is one of several top players staring in Nike (NKE, Fortune 500)'s 'Risk Everything' campaign, in which fans are encouraged to post videos of themselves playing soccer on social media.

4.Frenando Torres (Spain)

Nicknamed El Niño, Fernando Torres already has one World Cup victory under his belt, not to mention two European championships.

Repucom says fans see him as an "aspirational role model" and an "influential spokesperson."

Torres, who has appeared in music videos and made cameos in Spanish films, has endorsement deals with Adidas (ADDDF) and Pepsi (PEP, Fortune 500). He plays professionally for Chelsea in the United Kingdom.

5.Wayne Rooney (England)

A top striker for Manchester United, Wayne Rooney has benefited from the British football club's international renown.Rooney has an endorsement deal with Nike (NKE, Fortune 500) worth an estimated at $4 million a year, along with sponsorships by HarperCollins and Samsung (SSNLF).

The 28 year-old footballer was on the cover the British version of Electronic Art's (EA) FIFA video game series, and has 8.5 million followers on Twitter.

6.Andrés Iniesta (Spain)

Since he scored the winning goal for Spain in the 2010 World Cup, Andrés Iniesta's marketability has exploded.

He is one of the most popular athletes in Spain, and 80% of those surveyed by Repucom said Iniesta impacts their purchasing decisions. That's good news for his sponsors, including Sony (SNE). In a recent TV commercial, Iniesta tried to pass himself off as a salesman at a phone shop in Barcelona.

7.Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior (Brazil)

Known simply as Neymar Jr, the 22 year-old Brazilian is one of soccer's rising stars.

Neymar, who plays for FC Barcelona, has multimillion dollar endorsement deals with Nike (NKE, Fortune 500) and Red Bull.

He has 11 million Twitter followers and 22 million Facebook fans. He will also benefit from his home country hosting the World Cup this year.

8. Iker Casillas (Spain)

The only goalkeeper on the list, Repucom says Iker Casillas would probably rank even higher if he played a different position. Casillas has been captain of both Real Madrid and the Spanish national soccer team. He has won every local and international championship in the game. Adidas (ADDDF) has a pair of soccer goalie gloves named after him.

9. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden)

Swedish soccer star Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the only player on the list who will not be going to Brazil.

The Swedish team did not make the cut, but Ibrahimovic, who also plays for the French team Paris Saint-Germain, has plenty of brand equity.

Nike (NKE, Fortune 500) is paying him an estimated $3 million per year to star in its "Dare to Zlatan" campaign. He also has a major deal with Volvo (VOLVY).

10. Thierry Henry (France) BACKNEXT

marketable footballers thierry henry

Last but not least, Frenchman Thierry Henry is the only player on the list to currently play for an American team.

Henry moved to New York in 2010 to play for the Red Bulls, where he is captain. Before that, the 36 year-old was a top goal scorer for Monaco, Arsenal and FC Barcelona.

His international profile helped win him a multi-year partnership with Puma worth an estimated $1 million per year.

Henry was a mainstay on the French team for many years, becoming his country's highest all-time scorer. He announced his retirement from the national team in 2010, shortly after the last World Cup.