Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo edged World Cup winner Lionel Messi for the ranking as the highest paid athletes in 2023.
Forbes report the 38-year-old forward earned $136 million (£108.7m) over the past 12 months.
Argentina’s captain Lionel Messi is second on Forbes’ list having earned $130m (£103.9m). His PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe is third with the first non-soccer player coming in fourth – LeBron James. PSG are owned by Qatar Sports Investments.
Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez before LIV golf duo Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson take up spots six and seven.
The top ten is rounded out by basketball duo Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant. Roger Federer might be getting on a bit but he is ninth between Curry and Durant.
Forbes said its on-field earnings figures include all prize money, salaries and bonuses earned in the last 12 months while off-field earnings are an estimate of sponsorship deals, appearance fees, licensing income and cash returns from businesses they operate.
WORLD’S TOP 10 HIGHEST PAID ATHLETES 2023
1. Cristiano Ronaldo, football: $136m (£108.7m)
2. Lionel Messi, football: $130m (£103.9m)
3. Kylian Mbappe, football: $120m (£95.9m)
4. LeBron James, basketball: $119.5m (£95.5m)
5. Canelo Alvarez, boxing: $110m (£87.9m)
6. Dustin Johnson, golf: $107m (£85.5m)
7. Phil Mickelson, golf: $106m (£84.7m)
8. Stephen Curry, basketball: $100.4m (£80.2m)
9. Roger Federer, tennis: $95.1m (£76m)
10. Kevin Durant, basketball: $89.1m (£71.2m)
Source: Forbes
