Roger Federer is the world's highest-paid athlete for 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic knocked footballer Lionel Messi off top spot, according to the annual Forbes list released on Friday.

The Swiss tennis great, owner of a men's record 20 Grand Slam singles titles, earned $106.3m (£86.3m) in the last 12 months, including $100m (£81.2m) via endorsements, to move up four places and become the first player from his sport to top the list.

Football players Cristiano Ronaldo (£85.3m), Messi (£84.5m) and Neymar (£77.6m) and American basketball player LeBron James (£71.6m) rounded out the top five.

"The coronavirus pandemic triggered salary cuts for football stars Messi and Ronaldo, clearing the way for a tennis player to rank as the world's highest-paid athlete for the first time," said Kurt Badenhausen, senior editor at Forbes.
"Roger Federer is the perfect pitchman for companies, resulting in an unparalleled endorsement portfolio of blue-chip brands worth $100m a year for the tennis great."

Japan's Naomi Osaka (£30.7m), who was ranked 29th on the list, surpassed fellow tennis player Serena Williams (£29.5m) as the world's highest-earning female athlete.

Osaka and Williams were the only women on the list.

Basketball players led all sports with 35 players among the top 100. American football occupied 31 spots, none higher than six-times Super Bowl champion Tom Brady (£36.5m) who was ranked 25th.

Football was the next most represented sport with 14 players, followed by tennis (six), boxing and mixed martial arts (five), golf (four), motor racing (three), and baseball and cricket with one each.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/athletes/

MJBOLT:

it's only in things like this ronaldo can top messi,if we mention B'DOR AWARDS,GOLDEN BOOTS,TROPHIES etc Messi will easily top him.

The only time Messi comes before Ronaldo is only alphabetically M before R.

Ronaldo is the greatest to ever play the sport

Trash. Messi should be no.1. I don't follow Forbes list anymore after their lack of professionalism when reporting the net worth of Kylie and invictus obi.

Good Ronaldo my GOAT. Number 1 in everything. Argue with your keyboard.

Ronaldo And Messi Are Not Only Rich By Wealth But Also Rich By Heart Ronaldo Helps The Poor,Gives Donations,Go And Visit The Sick One,Gave Money To Fight CoronaVirus,Etc

Messi Also Gave Money To Fight CoronaVirus,Helped Others,During His Weddings,He Asked To Give Donations To Orphanages Instead Of Getting Wedding Gifts,Etc

Like for this two greatest goat

Messi and Ronaldo.. The greatest duo to grace the pitch

But But Mr. Agricultural Eibar Marchant renewed his Barcelona contract 7 times in 9 years with threat of leaving if they don't increase his pay.
So, despite that he's still lagging behind CR7

The trio can be the highest paid but not better than the man below in any way. Bow to the all time greatest.

I have cheap European cars for sale. Check my profile and patronize me please. God bless you as you do so.

Brother elder, do you still have time for our "meat"
Leave matter for us shidren

post=90122120:
#RESPECT to Ronaldinho.

Here was a guy sitting on the bench at PSG when JayJay was balling at the top of his game!!

#InsideLife

Messi is naturally gifted, but Ronaldo is a very hardworking player,Messi would have been unbeatable and it will make football to look bored if not for Ronaldo challenge, it's not easy to challenge someone that was naturally gifted,I credit Ronaldo for this.

Like for MESSI
Share for RONALDO

Ook

With this news, Nigeria debt has just been cleared. WONDERFUL

messi is still my favorite player... Very hardworking, humble and focused, no showoffs and what have you... This are the reason he keeps getting better every single day...everyone need these three virtue if one desire to on top of his game

Obembet, our sport journalist

i kno messi is the highest paid between both and was relaxed when i saw that he dropped because of pay cuts from the covid pandemic but still all i see is very long n huge money being earned by sportsmen...if neyma joins barca, he may drop from that list because that move thaf would make him happy do come with a prize wich is a paycut n sometimes i do think if footballers make transfer moves because of money or to get happiness...see the likes of coutinho, dembele, neyma, harzard, bale etc...they said they are moving for happiness bt went for money and all ended up as flops trying to lick dier wounds....n dts Y i wish promising players like mbappe, haaland, sancho, fati etc should try use dier heads wen going for the money....its well

chiefolododo:
Ook

chiefolododo:
you again? You are still alive despite the fact that Corona Virus is killing people up and down

Oh Lord! It's not the doin of human being, I'm Alive, Hale and hearty. THE REST FINGERS UNTO YOU NOW chief Aturota bi'elubo

Hope there's no fake billionaire on the list again

But..


When will Forbes start ranking leading men in poverty?

#RESPECT to Ronaldinho Ronaldo.

Oan,
Ronaldinho was a guy sitting on the bench at PSG when JayJay was balling at the top of his game!!

#InsideLife

Rema123:
Trash. Messi should be no.1. I don't follow Forbes list anymore after their lack of professionalism when reporting the net worth of Kylie and invictus obi.

Forbes were given wrong information by the two parties you mentioned.

Congrats, I miss football Sha.

Weekends have become so boring

Rema123:
Trash. Messi should be no.1. I don't follow Forbes list anymore after their lack of professionalism when reporting the net worth of Kylie and invictus obi.

Ehya.
U didnt tell Forbes that kylie Jenner is ur ex girlfriend and that invuctus obi was once ur business partner?

My name is not there. Why?

Ok