The Argentine star Leo Messifrom Paris Saint-Germain, topped the list for the second time the highest paid athletes in the world with estimated earnings of 130 million dollars in the last year, according to the magazine Forbes.
(See: The last goodbye to Freddy Rincón: this was the ex-footballer’s farewell).
The 34-year-old footballer relieves the Irishman at the top of the list Conor McGregor, mixed martial arts figure who topped the list a year ago with $180 million.
In his latest estimate, Forbes places Messi in the first place of the ten highest paid athletes of the last 12 months, all of them men, with the Mexican Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez in the first place of the boxers.
The media estimates that the earnings of Messi, who already led the list in 2019, reached $130 million before taxes.
Messi reached this figure despite the fact that his salary was reduced to 75 million dollars in the PSG, about 22 million less than his previous contract with the FC Barcelona.
However, the increase in his income from sponsorships to 55 million allowed him to equal the annual earnings record for a footballer, which Messi himself achieved last year when he was second on the list after McGregor.
The second position of the current list of Forbes occupies it Lebron James, the superstar of the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA, with 121.2 million dollars, and the third the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United forward, with 115 million.
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Despite his disappointing campaign with the Lakers, ‘King James’ broke the previous earnings record for an NBA player that he himself had set last year with 96.5 million.
LeBron James, NBA player.
His income off the court (80 million) practically doubled his salary with the Lakers (41.2).
‘CANELO’ THE HIGHEST PAID BOXER
The ‘top’ 5 of the list is completed by the Brazilian Neymar (PSG), with 95 million dollars, and the American basketball player Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors) with 92.8 million.
Neymar is a soccer player.
Sixth appears the American Kevin Durant (92.1 million dollars), star of the Brooklyn Nets of the NBA, and behind the veteran Swiss tennis player Roger Federer, with 90.7 million, of which only 0.7 million come from his results on the field, reduced in recent years by numerous injuries.
(See: Rappi, the new sponsor brand of the Colombian National Team).
the mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez He is in eighth place with 90 million dollars, of which 85 million were entered for his victories in the ring.
The list is completed by Tom Brady (83.9 million), leader of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and NFL star, and the Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo (80.9), champion last year in the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Tom Brady, figure of the NFL.
Collectively, these 10 athletes pocketed $992 million in the last 12 months, the third-highest figure since estimates began. Forbes, after the 1,060 million in 2018 and the 1,050 in 2021.
The volume of 2021 was driven by the sale of the whiskey brand Proper No.Twelve by McGregor, which brought him an estimated $150 million.
The Irishman left this year the ‘top’ 10, but will appear in the complete list of 50 athletes who Forbes It will be published at the end of the month.
AFP
