Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar top Forbes rich list of world’s highest-paid athletes

Ranking the top-100 global earners, Ronaldo came second in Forbes’ sporting rich list with Neymar third, making it the first time footballers have ever filled the top three spots.

The Argentinian maestro earned a whopping £100million, unseating retied boxer Floyd Mayweather who topped the list four times in seven years.

Messi, 31, earned £72m from his salary and prize money, with an extra £28m filling the coffers from endorsements.
Fresh from lifting the Uefa Nations League title, Ronaldo took home £86m, with £51m from wages and £35m from endorsements.

Brazilian forward Neymar scooped £83m, with Manchester United’s Paul Pogba the next highest footballer in 44th place on £26m.

The list includes prize money, salaries and bonuses earned between June 1, 2018 and June 1, 2019.

And Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez is the first non-footballer in fourth (£74m), with tennis star Roger Federer in fifth (£73.5m).
Completing the top-10 are NFL stars Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers (both £70m), and NBA legends Le Bron James (£70m), Stephen Curry (£63m) and Kevin Durant (£51m).