Ronaldo Tops Forbes’ List Of Highest-paid Athletes Again With Rahm Second

39-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo topped Forbes’ list of the highest-paid athletes for the fourth time in his career. 

Jon Rahm, a Spanish golfer, climbed up to second place after making a stunning shift to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf.

Ronaldo became the highest-paid athlete in the world after joining Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia from Manchester United.

According to Forbes, he made an all-time high of almost $260 million in total earnings as a football player.

Ronaldo earns $200 million on the field, and $60 million off field as a result of sponsorship agreements that let companies leverage his 629 million Instagram followers.

Rahm, a two-time major champion, made a massive financial move to LIV Golf in December that shocked the sport when it was revealed in the media that the current world number five will receive at least $300 million.

Apart from that assurance, Rahm has made $218 million, making him and Cristiano Ronaldo the only two sportsmen to make more than $200 million.

Third on the list is the record eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, who helped the Argentine World Cup champion earn $135 million by moving to Major League Soccer club Inter Miami.

The 36-year-old has made $70 million off the field in addition to $65 million on field via endorsement deals with companies like Apple and Adidas.

LeBron James, the 39-year-old American who became the first NBA player to record 40,000 points in his career, is currently ranked fourth with $128.2 million. Despite his advanced age, James will make one more attempt to compete in the Olympics.

Fellow NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo ($111 million) of the Milwaukee Bucks rounds out the top five while France’s football captain Kylian Mbappe has dropped down to sixth ($110 million).

Mbappe announced he would be leaving Paris St-Germain after seven years in the French capital where he became the club’s all-time leading scorer and the 25-year-old is expected to join Spanish giants Real Madrid in the close season.

Former PSG star Neymar, who also moved to the Saudi Pro League to join Al Hilal, is seventh ($108 million) despite sitting out the majority of the season with a torn ACL. [CONTINUE READING HERE]