Cristiano Ronaldo is able to lift his third Champions League trophy in 2016 and he is also in the top of the list of the highest earners in the world.
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Cristiano Ronaldo tops the Forbes list of highest-paid sportsman for 2016. Messi earned bonuses from Barcelona and chief sponsor Adidas when he racked up his fifth Federation Internationale de Football Association player of the year award in January.
His rise follows a 12-month period in which he earned $US15.1 million ($A20.21 million) on the golf course, and a further $US8.5 million ($A11.37 million) in endorsements. Messi’s total earnings from sponsors were $28 million.
In fourth was Roger Federer on £46.5 million followed by U.S. basketball star Kevin Durant on £38.6 million in fifth.
There are five Britons in the top 100, led by Lewis Hamilton in 11th on $46m, with Rory McIlroy at 17 ($42.6m), Gareth Bale at 25 ($35.9m), Wayne Rooney at 49 ($26.1m) and Andy Murray at 74 ($23m).
James made his movie debut in “Trainwreck” last year and is set to star in the sequel to the 1996 Michael Jordan film “Space Jam” as well as take a huge salary boost next year when the NBA’s new United States dollars 24 billion television deal starts.
The 100 top-earning athletes represent 23 countries across 10 sports, with a staggering $3.15bn banked between them. The NFL was next with 21, topped by Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton ($53.1 million) in seventh spot. James can opt out of his existing Cleveland Cavaliers deal and secure a pact starting around $31 million, noted the Forbes report. Roger Federer. $67.8m/£46.7m 3. Kevin Durant, NBA; $56.2 million 6. Jordan Spieth, golf; $52.8 million 10.
The previously highest paid woman in sport was yesterday banned from tennis for two years after testing positive for a banned substance.
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LeBron James earned more than the Barcelona and Real Madrid players in endorsements ($54 million), although his $23.2 million salary was dwarfed by the wages of Ronaldo and Messi ($53.4m). Not having fought for a year, Mayweather fell to 16th place this year, with his total earnings amounting to a satisfactory $30 million (R446,1 million). Curry inked a four-year, $44 million deal with the Warriors in 2012.
