Sports is such a rewarding career that can attract anyone. Name, fame, money, and limelight are not a big deal for sportspersons. The sports industry is an ocean of opportunities where you have innumerable ways of earning money. Many athletes make millions of dollars yearly either in the field or off the field. Today we are here to know about the world’s top 10 highest-paid athletes. This ranking was released by Forbes in May 2021.
1. Conor McGregor
Conor Anthony McGregor is an Irish mixed martial artist, boxer, and businessperson. He is a former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight and lightweight double-champion. He was ranked as the world’s highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 2021 with $180 million total earnings. His on-the-field earning was $22 million while his off-the-field earning was $158 million.
2. Lionel Messi
Lionel Andres Messi is an Argentine professional football player who currently plays for the Barcelona football club. He has won a record six Ballon d’Or awards and a record six European Golden shoe award. He was ranked as the world's second-highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 2021 with $130 million in total earnings. His on-the-field earning was $97 million and his off-the-field earning was $33 million.
3. Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese professional football player who plays for the Italian football club Juventus. He also captains the Portugal national football team. Ronaldo has won five Ballon d’Or awards and four European Golden shoe awards. He was ranked as the world’s third highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 2021 with $120 million in total earnings. His on-the-field earning was $70 million and his off-the-field earning was $50 million.
4. Dak Prescott
Rayne Dakota Prescott is an American gridiron (American football) player. He plays as a quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He was ranked as the world’s fourth highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 2021 with $107.5 total earnings. His on-the-field earning was $97.5 million while his off-the-field earning was $10 million.
5. LeBron James
LeBron Raymone James Sr. is an American professional basketball player of the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). His accomplishments include four NBA championships, four NBA Most Valuable Player Awards, and two Olympic gold medals. He was ranked as the world’s fifth highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 2021 with $96.5 million in total earnings. His on-the-field earning was $31.5 million while his off-the-field earning was $65 million.
6. Neymar
Neymar da Silva Santos Junior is a Brazilian professional football player who plays for Paris Saint-Germain Football Club which is based in France. He also plays for the Brazilian national football team. In 2017, he was included by Time in its list of 100 most influential people in the world. He was ranked as the world’s sixth highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 2021 with $95 million total earnings. His on-the-field earning was $76 million while his off-the-field earning was $19 million.
7. Roger Federer
Roger Federer is a Swiss professional tennis player. He has won 20 Grand Slams men’s singles titles and 130 ATP singles titles. Federer has been World No. 1 in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) rankings for a total of 310 weeks. He was ranked as the world’s seventh highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 2021 with $90 million total earnings. His on-the-field earning was $30 thousand while his off-the-field earning was $90 million.
8. Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton is a British racing driver who currently competes in Formula One for Mercedes. He holds the record for the most wins (98), pole positions (100), and podium finishes (169), amongst others. He was ranked as the world’s eighth highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 2021 with $82 million in total earnings. His on-the-field earning was $ 70 million while his off-the-field earning was $12 million.
9. Tom Brady
Tom Edward Patrick Brady Jr. is an American gridiron (American football) player. He plays as a quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He was ranked as the world’s ninth highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 2021 with $76 million total earnings. His on-the-field earning was $45 million while his off-the-field earning was $31 million.
10. Kevin Durant
Kevin Wayne Durant is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was ranked as the world’s tenth highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 2021 with $75 million total earnings. His on-the-field earning was $31 million while his off-the-field earning was $44 million.
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