Ranked: Lionel Messi named richest athlete of the year - here is the top 10 in pictures

1) Lionel Messi ($127m). AP Photo

2) Cristiano Ronaldo ($109m). AP Photo

3) Neymar ($105m). Reuters

4) Saul Alvarez ($94m) AP Photo

5) Roger Federer ($93.4m). Getty Images

6) Russell Wilson ($89.5m)

7) Aaron Rodgers ($89.3m)

8) LeBron James ($89m). Reuters

9) Stephen Curry ($79.8m). Reuters

10) Kevin Durant ($65.4m). Reuters

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has been named by Forbes magazine as the highest-earning athlete over the past year.

In Forbes' annual rich list, Messi dethroned retired boxer Floyd Mayweather as the sports world's highest earner, raking in $127million (Dh466.5m) via salary and endorsement deals.

That put Messi ahead of long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, the Juventus and Portugal star who was second with earnings of $109m.

Brazil and Paris Saint-Germain striker Neymar completed a sweep of the top three positions by footballers, coming in third with earnings of $105m.

The fourth highest earner on the list was Mexico's middleweight boxing star Saul "Canelo" Alvarez with $94m.

Alvarez, who defeated Gennady Golovkin last September to become the unified middleweight champion, inked the richest deal in boxing history last October, signing a five-year 11-fight contract with streaming network DAZN worth $365m.

Evergreen tennis star Roger Federer was fifth on the list with total earnings of $93.4m.

The bulk of Federer's earnings came through lucrative endorsement deals, with the 20-time Grand Slam singles champion pocketing $86m.

Stars from the NFL and NBA rounded out the top 10 on the list, with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson sixth on $89.5m, just ahead of Green Bay Packers signal-caller Aaron Rodgers ($89.3m).

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was the highest earning NBA player, with $89m, while Golden State's Stephen Curry was ninth with $79.8m.

Curry's Golden State team-mate Kevin Durant was 10th on the rankings with $65.4m.

Former world number one Tiger Woods was 11th on the list with $69.3m, which included an estimated $54m in endorsements.

Meanwhile tennis superstar Serena Williams was the only woman to make the list, coming in at 63rd with earnings of $29.2m.