Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo Top Forbes' 2019 Highest-Paid Athlete List
June 11, 2019
Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi tops Forbes' list of the world's highest-paid athletes from the past year, taking in a cool $127 million between his salary and earnings ($92 million) and endorsements ($35 million).
He is followed by:
- Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo ($109 million)
- Paris Saint-Germain's Neymar ($105 million)
- Boxer Canelo Alvarez ($94 million)
- Tennis superstar Roger Federer ($93.4 million)
- Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson ($89.5 million )
- Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers ($89.3 million)
- Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James ($89 million)
- Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry ($79.8 million)
- Warriors forward Kevin Durant ($65.4 million).
Newcomers to the top 100 this year include Chicago Bears edge-rusher Khalil Mack ($55 million), Dallas Cowboys edge-rusher Demarcus Lawrence ($46.9 million), Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper ($44.5 million), Los Angeles Rams wrecking ball Aaron Donald ($41.4 million) and Rams wideout Brandin Cooks ($38 million).
The NBA leads all professional leagues with 35 players in the top 100. Sixty-two are United States-based athletes, with the NBA and NFL combining for over half the list alone.
Tiger Woods ($63.9 million)—who has topped the list a record 12 times—just missed out on the top 10, finishing 11th overall. Tennis legend Serena Williams ($29.2 million) is the only woman who makes an appearance, coming in at No. 63. Cricket star Virat Kohli ($25 million) is the lone player from his sport, rounding it out at No. 100.
Lewis Hamilton ($55 million) is the top race-car driver at No. 13, while Conor McGregor ($47 million) is first among MMA fighters and 21st overall. Mike Trout ($50.6 million) is the top MLB player on the list and 17th overall.
No NHL players are in the top 100.
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