Ibrahimovic No. 2 on UK’s rich list — Report

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Lewis Hamilton is still the richest sportsman in the UK but Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a close second after he gatecrashed the top 10 of the new Sunday Times Rich List.

Mercedes Formula One driver Hamilton, who is bidding to win his fourth World Championship this year, has a £131m fortune and has seen his wealth increase by £25m in the past 12 months.

Ibrahimovic, United’s 35-year-old Swedish striker, leapfrogged teammate Wayne Rooney to become the richest footballer on the list after he joined the English side in July last year.

The imposing forward has a wealth of £110m after more than a decade playing for Europe’s elite clubs including PSG, AC Milan, Barcelona, Juventus and Inter Milan and a lucrative long-term endorsement deal with Nike.

Formula One’s Jenson Button and golfer Rory McIlroy make up the top five with wealth of £86m and £82m respectively.

McIlroy’s fortune rose by £26m in the past 12 months, the biggest rise on the list, while Button’s personal fortune grew by £9m even though he handed over his McLaren seat at the end of last season.

Football is the best-represented sport in the top 10, with five of the wealthiest sports people either players or managers.

Rooney (£93m, up £11m) is third, while Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is in seventh place (£61m) and Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola equal ninth (£50m).

Wales and Real Madrid striker Gareth Bale has seen his wealth rise by £20m in the last year to a total of £54m, to place him eighth in the top 10.