As one of the greatest soccer player, Messi is also worth the world. (Image via: Sky News)

Forbes Ranking: Mayweather, Out! Messi, In!

GOAT on the pitch, GOAT off the pitch. Lionel Messi, Argentine soccer superstar and also a Barca, just beat American boxing world champion, Floyd Mayweather. However, not on the boxing canvas, but on Forbes’ canvas. Forbes tabulated that the Argentine just became the highest paid athlete of the year. Surely, La Pulga – Messi’s nickname – wants it all.

Floyd Mayweather was the highest paid in 2018, and he was the king of the list for 7 years straight. However, since Messi earned US$127 billion this year with 35 million worth of endorsement, the American boxer had to give up the crown to him. Ironically, people call Mayweather as “Money”. It seems like the name did not do the magic this time. 

Forbes, leading American business magazine, just released its list of world’s top 100 highest paid athletes, and Floyd Mayweather did not make it to top 100. His once competitor, Conor McGregor, made it to number 21 with US$47 million salary and 15 million worth of endorsement.

Top 5 of the Forbes’ list is dominated by soccer athletes. Sitting at number 2, Messi’s rival and Portuguese soccer player who currently plays at Juventus, Cristiano Ronaldo, earns US$109 million. Number 3 is Neymar, Brazilian/PSG soccer player, who earns US$105 million. While number 4 and 5 go to Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez, jabbing Swiss tennis player Roger Federer by small margin: US$94 million to US$93.4 million.

By this list, we can assume that soccer is such a lucrative sports business in the world, beating other sportsperson’s earnings.

Source: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/messi-dethrones-mayweather-in-rankings-20190612-p51ww0.html