Top seven most paid athletes according to Forbes

Forbes has released its highly anticipated list of the world’s highest-paid athletes,

and Cristiano Ronaldo has emerged as the top earner for the fourth time in his illustrious career.

The Portuguese soccer superstar raked in a staggering $260 million, with $200 million

coming from his lucrative contract with Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League and $60 million from various endorsement deals.

In second place is Spanish golfer Jon Rahm, who made a lucrative switch to the

Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf tour, earning him a guaranteed $300 million, in addition to his $218 million in other earnings. Rahm’s move to LIV Golf has been widely reported as one of the most significant deals in golf history.

the Argentine soccer legend

Lionel Messi, the Argentine soccer legend who recently joined Inter Miami in the Major Soccer League,

came in third with total earnings of $205 million. Messi’s move to MLS has been seen as a

significant coup for the league, and his endorsement deals with major brands like Adidas and

Apple have contributed significantly to his earnings.

Rounding out the top five are NBA stars LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo,

with earnings of $128.2 million and $111 million, respectively. James, who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, has been one of the highest-paid athletes in the world for several years, while Antetokounmpo, who plays for the Milwaukee Bucks, has seen his earnings skyrocket in recent years thanks to his dominance on the court and his endorsement deals with major brands.

the PSG  soccer Club

Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe and Al Hilal’s Neymar, both soccer players, took sixth and seventh place on the list, with earnings of $110 million and $108 million, respectively. Despite sitting out most of the season with a torn ACL, Neymar’s endorsement deals with major brands like Nike and Red Bull have helped him maintain his position as one of the highest-paid athletes in the world.

©Ifreke Iyang