World’s Highest-Paid Athletes: Ronaldo Beats Mayweather, Woods To Top Forbes 2016 List
Cristiano Ronaldo[/caption]
Real Madrid forward, Cristiano Ronaldo Forbes’ annual list of the world’s wealthiest athletes with $88m from wages and endorsements over the past year.
Roanldo beat stiff competition from football rival Lionel Messi who earned $81.4m, and basketball player LeBron James, who earned $77.2m.
The Portuguese player has a sportswear sponsorship deal with Nike, which has launched a clothing range called CR7 (after his initials and shirt number) and has signed partnerships with watchmaker Tag Heuer and nutrition supplements group Herbalife.
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The influential business magazine’s list has been led by either boxer Floyd Mayweather or golfer Tiger Woods for the past decade-and-a-half.
It is the first time since 2001 that an athlete other than Mr Mayweather or golfer Tiger Woods has topped the list.
Woods took the prize a mammoth 12 times, while Mayweather topped the list three times in an incredible show of dominance for the pair.
Mr Mayweather, who retired from boxing in October following an undefeated professional career of 49 bouts, he fought just once in the past year.
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Woods on the other hand earned just $300,000 from golf winnings, but $45m from endorsement deals with companies including Nike and Titleist.
The top 10 list is as follows:
Cristiano Ronaldo – football ($88m/£60.6m)
Lionel Messi – football ($81.4m/£56.1m)
LeBron James – basketball ($77.2m/£53.2m)
Roger Federer – tennis ($67.8m/£46.7m)
Kevin Durant – basketball (£56.2m/£38.7m)
Novak Djokovic – tennis ($55.8m/£38.46m)
Cam Newton – American football ($53.1m/£36.6m)
Phil Mickelson – golf ($52.9m/£36.46m)
Jordan Spieth – golf ($52.8m/£36.39m)
Kobe Bryant – basketball ($50m/£34.46m).
