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Football

11th Jun 2019

Messi and Ronaldo top Forbes Highest Paid Athlete List

Jack O'Toole

Lionel Messi has ranked first on Forbes’ annual World’s Highest-Paid Athletes list with estimated earnings of $127 million.

Messi, Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar rank first, second and third on the list which accounts for money, salaries and endorsements from athletes between June 2018 and June 2019.

Messi made $127 million last year, followed by Ronaldo’s $109 million while Neymar trailed just behind the Portuguese superstar with $105 million.

Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez is the highest paid non-footballer on the list with earnings of $94 million, in large thanks to his five-year, 11-fight deal worth at least $365 million, while tennis great Roger Federer comes in just behind him with earnings of $93.4 million.

The top 100 spans 10 sports and includes athletes from 25 countries with their $4 billion in combined earnings from prize money, salaries and endorsements up 5% from last year, when Floyd Mayweather was first with $285 million.

The cutoff to crack the world’s 100 highest-paid athletes is $25 million this year, compared with $17.3 million five years ago.

To view the full list click here.

Top 10 

Rank Name Pay Salary/Winnings Endorsements
#1 Lionel Messi $127 M $92 M $35 M Soccer
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo $109 M $65 M $44 M Soccer
#3 Neymar $105 M $75 M $30 M Soccer
#4 Canelo Alvarez $94 M $92 M $2 M Boxing
#5 Roger Federer $93.4 M $7.4 M $86 M Tennis
#6 Russell Wilson $89.5 M $80.5 M $9 M Football
#7 Aaron Rodgers $89.3 M $80.3 M $9 M Football
#8 LeBron James $89 M $36 M $53 M Basketball
#9 Stephen Curry $79.8 M $37.8 M $42 M Basketball
#10 Kevin Durant $65.4 M $30.4 M $35 M Basketball