The 20 highest paid athletes in the world: Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, Conor McGregor, LeBron James and more

2020 wasn’t a normal year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the quarantine. Almost everyone saw how their incomes were reduced, and that was not the exception to great idols and legends from sports. Almost all of them negotiated with their clubs a lower in their salaries, due to such a hard situation.

The complete list of the professional athletes who earned more money during 2020 doesn’t start with a soccer player, despite the top five has three of them. The one who gained the most is tennis legend Roger Federer. The Swiss was able to make up to $106.3 million and ended in the first position among all the athletes.

The podium continues with a soccer player. The Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo completed an impressive year, in which he made $105 million. Most of that income arrived from the contract he has signed with Juventus, but another part is what he gains for sponsorships with top brands from which he is an ambassador.

The podium completes itself with Lionel Messi. The Argentine raised $104 million yearly. FC Barcelona, the club that paid his salary during the last 20 years, is now a mystery in his future, as he has already reported that he wants to leave. The other soccer idol in the top 10 is Neymar, the Brazilian star that shines at Paris Saint-Germain and gained $95.5 million.

No soccer players on the top 10

The rest of the list does not have any soccer players. In fact, the next one is Mohamed Salah, who stands in the 34 position ($35.1 million). The top 10 is completed with LeBron James ($88.2 million), Stephen Curry ($74.4 million), Kevin Durant ($63.9 million), Tiger Woods ($62.3 million), Kirk Cousins ($60.5 million) and Carson Wentz ($59.1 million).