Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi is the world's highest paid athlete, earning $127m (£99.8m) in the past 12 months, according to the Forbes top 100 ranking.

Juventus's Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo is second on $109m (£85.6m) with Paris St-Germain's Brazil forward Neymar in third on $105m (£82.5m).

Last year's highest earner, boxer Floyd Mayweather, has dropped off the list.

Serena Williams is the only woman in the top 100, earning $29.2m (£22.9m).

Five-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton and former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua are the highest earning British athletes, sitting at 13th on $55m (£43.2m).

The American business magazine calculated the athletes' earnings by adding up their prize money, salaries and endorsements between June 2018 and June 2019.

The top 100 includes athletes from 25 countries and their $4bn (£3,1bn) combined earnings are up 5% from the previous year, when Mayweather was first with $285m (£224m).

The American boxer's only fight since August 2017 was an exhibition boxing bout against Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in December.

Athletes had to earn a minimum of $25m (£19.6m) to make this year's list.

Messi is only the second footballer to top the rankings after Ronaldo, and only the eighth different athlete to take the number one spot since the rankings began in 1990.

It is also the first time that footballers have ranked as the top three earners in sports.

Messi is one of 38 non-American athletes on the list, with 62 US stars in the top 100.

The NBA accounted for the most athletes with 35, with LA Lakers' LeBron James the sport's highest paid athlete in eighth on $89m ahead of Golden State Warriors pair Stephen Curry (9th on $79.8m) and Kevin Durant (10th on $65.4m).

Manchester United's Paul Pogba is the highest earning Premier League player in 44th place with $33m (£25.9m).

Top 10
1. Lionel Messi $127m (£99.8m)
2. Cristiano Ronaldo $109m (£85.6m)
3. Neymar $105m (£82.5m)
4. Canelo Alvarez $94m (£73.8m)
5. Roger Federer $93.4m (£73.3)
6. Russell Wilson $89.5m (£70.3m)
7. Aaron Rodgers $89.3m £70.1m)
8. LeBron James $89m (£69.9m)
9. Stephen Curry $79.8m (£62.7m)
10, Kevin Durant $65.4m (£51.3m)

See the full list here https://www.forbes.com/athletes/list/#tab:overall

https://www.bbc.com/sport/48602166

This is not a Messi/Ronaldo debate, but I think Messi needed this. It's been quite a while he had something to cheer on since he lifted the LaLiga trophy.

Meanwhile footballers are earning good money mehn, let me help you save yours on your next event. See my signature below

Leo!!

But according to barca fans he doesnot play 4 d money but love of futbol...

That should be a Consolation for him. He didn't have so much going for him this season

I thought I saw something like this on FP yesterday??

Who's the real GOAT

Like for Ronaldo and Share for Messi

for the fact that u re the highest paid doesn't make you the best sport man ...

MESSI IS THE REAL G. O. A. T
argue with your entire lineage.

u

How many times una go post this thing for front page?!?

He is the highest paid footballer in the world and he still couldn't deliver when the club needed him to win necessary trophy

How did he edge out. Awon bloggers

Ok. That's good.

RULE 1. NEVER COMPARE RONALDO TO MESSI
























































RULE 2. DONT FORGET RULE 1

This news was on fp yesterday..... or is it that the one posted yesterday was in Spanish language or spanishland??......




nairaland.... more like shitland

Kenedy16:
But according to barca fans he doesnot play 4 d money but love of futbol...

football is as much about business as it is about sports, same thing with basketball, boxing and more. even if messi doesn't go for money, his handlers will go for it.

Nothing sweet pass been paid for what you like doing

nanauju:


That should be a Consolation for him. He didn't have so much going for him this season

he won la liga,his 6 golden boot,la liga highest goal scorer, champions league highest scorer, highest freekick,best champions league goal and your best player is getting annoyed because belnado Silva win best player in the tournament.... just leave Messi alone he worried about no one,when you are the best people must find something against you!

lexyman:
for the fact that u re the highest paid doesn't make you the best sport man ...

win trophy with the support of other team players doesn't make you the best but when you lose it your fans will say you don't have any player supporting you....

KingOdart:
He is the highest paid footballer in the world and he still couldn't deliver when the club needed him to win necessary trophy

he deliver in every aspect of him,pass, create chances,dribble, assist and score,you don't expect him to go to goal post or defence because others are not contributing...but when the other player lose,you will still come here and say he doesn't have any player helping him but before he move to the club,they qualify for two champions league final and semi final but when ajax beat them your player don't have who is helping him,when you are the best people must find excuse on you!

Pained ronaldo fans

KingOdart:
He is the highest paid footballer in the world and he still couldn't deliver when the club needed him to win necessary trophy

Corrosiveman:
RULE 1. NEVER COMPARE RONALDO TO MESSI
























































RULE 2. DONT FORGET RULE 1

RULE 3: no comparison because one of them dribble passes assist and still score while the other wait for tap in or heading so no comparison!

Guy y

uthlaw:
RULE 3: no comparison because one of them dribble passes assist and still score while the other wait for tap in or heading so no comparison!

k

We done hear na
How many times will this make front page.
You want to remind us how poor we are every 10minutes nairaland sha