The world of professional sports has seen its fair share of stars come and go, but the biggest names in the industry are some of the highest-paid athletes in the world. These athletes have made their mark by performing consistently at the highest level and have been rewarded with huge contracts and endorsements. According to Forbes, the top 15 highest-paid athletes in the world earned a combined total of $1.9 billion in 2020, with the majority of their earnings coming from endorsements.
1. Lionel Messi: The Argentinian soccer star tops the list with a total of $126 million in earnings. He is the second-highest-paid soccer player in the world and has been playing for FC Barcelona since 2004. He has won the FIFA Ballon d’Or six times, an unprecedented achievement that speaks to his greatness.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo: The Portuguese soccer star is the highest-paid soccer player in the world and second on the list, with a total of $117 million in earnings. He has been playing for Juventus since 2018 and has won the Ballon d’Or five times. His success on the field has led to a wealth of endorsement deals.
3. Neymar Jr.: The Brazilian soccer star is third on the list, with a total of $96 million in earnings. He is the most expensive soccer player in history after his transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017. He has been a key player for the French club and has won a number of individual awards.
4. LeBron James: The American basketball star is fourth on the list with a total of $88 million in earnings. He has been playing in the NBA since 2003 and is currently a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. He is a four-time NBA champion and has won the NBA MVP award four times.
5. Roger Federer: The Swiss tennis star is fifth on the list with a total of $85 million in earnings, the highest of any tennis player in the world. He has been a top player on the ATP tour since 1998, winning 20 Grand Slam titles. He is the most successful male tennis player in the Open Era.
6. Stephen Curry: The American basketball star is sixth on the list with a total of $74.4 million in earnings. He has been playing in the NBA since 2009 and is currently a member of the Golden State Warriors. He is a three-time NBA champion and has won the NBA MVP award twice.
7. Kevin Durant: The American basketball star is seventh on the list with a total of $63.9 million in earnings. He is currently a member of the Brooklyn Nets and has been playing in the NBA since 2007. He is a two-time NBA champion and won the NBA MVP award in 2014.
8. Tiger Woods: The American golfer is eighth on the list with a total of $62.3 million in earnings. He is one of the most successful golfers in history and has won 15 major championships. He has been playing professionally since 1996 and is currently the highest-paid golfer in the world.
9. Kirk Cousins: The American football star is ninth on the list with a total of $60.5 million in earnings. He has been playing in the NFL since 2012 and is currently a member of the Minnesota Vikings. He has been selected to two Pro Bowls and is one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league.
10. Carson Wentz: The American football star is tenth on the list with a total of $59.1 million in earnings. He has been playing in the NFL since 2016 and is currently a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. Wentz is one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league and has been selected to two Pro Bowls.
11. Russell Wilson: The American football star is eleventh on the list with a total of $58.3 million in earnings. He has been playing in the NFL since 2012 and is currently a member of the Seattle Seahawks. He is one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league and has been selected to six Pro Bowls.
12. Aaron Rodgers: The American football star is twelfth on the list with a total of $57.5 million in earnings. He has been playing in the NFL since 2005 and is currently a member of the Green Bay Packers. He has been selected to nine Pro Bowls and is one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league.
13. James Harden: The American basketball star is thirteenth on the list, with a total of $47.6 million in earnings. He has been playing in the NBA since 2009 and is currently a member of the Brooklyn Nets. He is a six-time NBA All-Star and won the NBA MVP award in 2018.
14. Matthew Stafford: The American football star is fourteenth on the list with a total of $45.8 million in earnings. He has been playing in the NFL since 2009 and is currently a member of the Detroit Lions. Stafford is one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league and has been selected to three Pro Bowls.
15. Anthony Davis: The American basketball star is fifteenth on the list with a total of $45.4 million in earnings. He has been playing in the NBA since 2012 and is currently a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. He is a six-time NBA All-Star and won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award in 2019.
The world of professional sports is filled with stars who have made their mark in the industry and have been rewarded with lucrative deals. These top 15 highest-paid athletes in the world have proven their worth on and off the field, and their success has been reflected in their earnings.
