Messi, Ronaldo, Fury, Tiger and the official top 20 earners in sport last year - in pictures

The annual Forbes list includes some surprising names - and a new winner

Amrican boxer Deontay Wilder, $46.5m. AP

British boxer Anthony Joshua, $47m. AFP

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, $47.6m. AFP

James Harden of the Houston Rockets, $47.8m. Getty

UFC star Conor McGregor, $48m. AFP

Jared Goff of the Los Angeles Rams, $49m. AFP

Golfer Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, $52m. AFP

British Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton of the Mercedes team, $54m. AFP

Russell Westbrook of the Houston Rockets, $56m. AFP

WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, $57m. PA

Carson Wentz of the Philadelphia Eagles, $59.1m. AFP

Kirk Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings, $60.5m. Getty

American golfer Tiger Woods, $62.3m. AFP

Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets, $63.9m.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (r), $74.4m. AP

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers, $88.2m. AFP

Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Neymar, $95.5m. AFP

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi enjoyed earnings of $104m. AP

Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo was edged into second place with his earnings of $105m. AFP

Switzerland's Roger Federer was top of the Forbes rich list for athletes, with earnings of $106.3 million (Dh390m) from prize money and endorsements. AFP

Roger Federer has topped the 2020 Forbes magazine list of highest-paid global athletes, leading the lineup for the first time with earnings of $106.3 million (Dh 390m).

The Swiss legend, a men's record 20-time Grand Slam singles champion, becomes the first player from tennis to top the annual list since its 1990 inception, rising from fifth in 2019.

Federer's haul over the past 12 months included $100 million from appearances fees and endorsement deals plus $6.3 million in prize money. His previous best showing was second in 2013.

"His brand is pristine, which is why those that can afford to align with him clamour to do so," University of Southern California sports business professor David Carter told the magazine.

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic that shut down sports worldwide caused the first decline since 2016 in the total income of the world's 100 top-paid athletes, a nine per cent dip from last year to $3.6 billion. Another fall is expected next year.

Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo was second on the list at $105 million, with Barcelona's Lionel Messi third on $104 million.

Messi and Ronaldo, who have traded the top spot three of the past four years, saw their combined incomes dip $28 million from last year due to salary cuts when European clubs halted play in March.

Tiger Woods, the reigning Masters champion and a 15-time major winner, was eighth on the list and tops among golfers at $62.3 million, all but $2.3 million from sponsor deals.

The top 100 featured athletes from 21 nations and 10 sports. More NBA players made the list than those from any other sport at 35, but 31 NFL players made the cut, up from 19 from last year, and they pulled down the most money of any league, aided by finishing the season before the virus outbreak.

Two women, tennis stars Naomi Osaka of Japan and Serena Williams of the United States, made the list, the most females included since 2016.

To see the top 20 earners in reverse order, check out the photo gallery above.

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