Lionel Messi, LeBron James or Lewis Hamilton: which athlete earns more?

Lewis Hamilton is the great news of the week, after he renewed his contract with Mercedes-Benz and will keep competing in Formula 1 another year. At his 36 years old, he will try to transform into the most time champion in history leaving behind the record from Michael Schumacher.

With his new contract, Hamilton will be gaining more than $70 million, but that will still leave him behind some other top international athletes. The no. 1 in the list of best-paid sportsman is Lionel Messi, the Argentinian idol that receives almost $80 million from FC Barcelona yearly.

 The money received by Hamilton is also under the one received from Neymar, the two only soccer players that overcome him. LeBron James, the basketball player who receives more money per season, is paid $30 million of his contract with Los Angeles Lakers NBA franchise.

When counting endorsements signed, the list has several changes, as Messi leaves the first position and Roger Federer, who salary is just $7 million, escalates. Cristiano also overcomes him and arrives to the second place. Except soccer players, in the other sports athletes gain more money from sponsorships than their contracts with clubs or franchises.