Soccer players are currently among the highest-paid athletes in the world, and they have previously held the top spot. Conor McGregor, an MMA fighter, has nearly $50 million more than any other athlete this year!
The second and third highest-paid sportsmen are the same two soccer superstars who have been in the top five for nearly a decade. In 2021, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have yet to overcome McGregor. Continue reading to find out who the highest-paid athletes and sportsmen will be in 2021.
(180 million dollars) McGregor, Conor
Conor McGregor was probably not the most successful athlete in 2020 or 2021, but he is currently the highest-paid boxer and the wealthiest athlete in any form of professional sports. Although fans are anticipating a July return, McGregor’s heartbreaking homecoming ended in a Round two knockout at 2:32 in January 2021.
He did, however, make about $22 million just on the strength of his name. The Irish UFC combatant is presently rated first, thanks to strong sales of Proper No. Twelve bottles (McGregor’s own brand of Irish whiskey) and a host of endorsement deals, including but not limited to video games and lifestyle items.
Lionel Messi (about $130 million)
To be fair, no athlete’s life was made easier by the pandemic, but no other professional sport suffered a larger loss than the world’s largest. Nonetheless, Lionel Messi, the soccer sensation, is doing better than ever, due to Barcelona’s last dime (read: millions) and off-the-charts payments. Messi, for one, helped raise funds to purchase nearly 50,000 covid vaccine shots this year.
Cristiano Ronaldo ($120 million)
is the most expensive player in the world. Cristiano Ronaldo is a Brazilian footballer.
The discussion over who is the best among Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s 500 million+ social media followers is ongoing and never-ending. Regardless of the pandemic, it looks like the competition between the two soccer stars to become the richest player alive is still on.
While the soccer player is well-known for his love of poker and frequent visits to some of the most lavish online casinos, he is a prudent gambler who manages his cash wisely. His personal worth of well over $500 million in 2021 has had no effect on his ability to make prudent and astute financial decisions.
Dak Prescott ($107.5 Million)
is a football player from the United States. Prescott, Dak
Dak Prescott’s contract with the Dallas Cowboys was extended in 2021 with a four-year, $160 million agreement. The fact that the new contract contains a $66 million signing bonus has catapulted the quarterback to fourth place right now. Prescott will return to the field after a lengthy absence due to an ankle injury.
LeBron James has a net worth of $96.5 million.
Despite the fact that most of the individuals on this list have had relatively boring seasons thus far, LeBron James is not one of them. In 2020, he had a great year of basketball exploits, culminating in the Los Angeles Lakers winning their fourth NBA Championship in October. As if his resemblance to Michael Jordan wasn’t enough, James will also appear in this year’s Space Jam revival! Regardless matter which of the two legends is the greatest, Michael Jordan has him beat in terms of net worth. In terms of earning potential, LeBron James may one day surpass Jordan’s net worth, although this is all speculation at the moment.
Neymar Jr. ($95,000,000) is a Brazilian footballer.
Neymar da Silva Santos Junior (Jr.) is not as affluent as the top two soccer players on this list, but he is still the third best-paid soccer player today, a little over $1.4 million behind LeBron James for fifth place. That could change in the future, since Epic Games released Neymar Jr. as a character skin earlier this year, reintroducing Fortnite to his 282 million social media followers. If sales continue at their current rate, Neymar Jr. might be at the top of this list by the end of 2021.
Roger Federer (net worth estimated at $90 million)
Roger Federer was the highest-paid athlete in 2020, with a record $106.3 million, but his earnings have since dropped by more than $16 million. Remember that he hadn’t competed since early 2020, due to a knee ailment, so this is more impressive than the casual observer might think.
His $90 million income is solely based on endorsements. A number of well-known European companies, including Rolex and Uniqlo, support professional tennis player. It remains to be seen whether Federer moves up the list following the fall launch of a new sports gear brand called ‘On,’ in which he has a big stake.
Lewis Hamilton’s net worth is estimated to be $82 million.
Lewis Hamilton won 11 races in 2020, which led to lucrative sponsorship deals with Monster Energy Drink, Tommy Hilfiger, and Puma. As a result of such sponsorship arrangements, Hamilton is now the world’s eighth highest-paid athlete, having already added more than $82 million to his earnings this year. The racer has six Formula One championship to his name and continues to do Mercedes proud with each passing season.
Is it possible that the rankings may change next year? It almost certainly will, but Neymar Jr., LeBron James, Federer, Ronaldo, and Messi are unlikely to leave the top ten highest-paid athletes list anytime soon. It will be interesting to see where everyone ends up by 2021.
Souce :
https://www.sportsgamblingpodcast.com/2021/08/05/the-highest-earning-sports-players-of-2021/