Footballers dominate Forbes Highest Paid Athlete List

Footballers are doing well for themselves

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.