Being good at a sport brings, in addition to fame, a lot of money. Depending on the modality, this value can exceed 100 million dollars a year! This is what we see in the list released annually by Forbes magazine. Among the 10 highest salaries in the sport, there is a Brazilian: the soccer player Neymar.
10. Kevin Durant (USA)
- modality: basketball
- Total earnings in 2019: US$ 65,4 million (R$ 357,2 million)
- How much you earned between salary and bonus: US$ 30,4 million (R$ 166 million)
- How much did you earn from sponsorships?: US$ 35 million (R$ 191,1 million)
The Brooklyn Nets scorer is considered by many experts to be one of the greatest of his generation. He made the All-NBA Team 9 times and was named Most Valuable Player of the 2013-14 season. He was a two-time NBA champion for the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018, being named MVP in both finals.
9. Stephen Curry (USA)
- modality: basketball
- Total earnings in 2019: US$ 79,8 million (R$ 435,8 million)
- How much you earned between salary and bonus: US$ 37,8 million (R$ 206,4 million)
- How much did you earn from sponsorships?: US$ 42 million (R$ 229,4 million)
Stephen Curry is the 3-pointer. An expert pitcher, he led the Golden State Warriors to NBA titles in 2015, 2017 and 2018, and in the 2015 campaign he was named Most Valuable Player. He was elected to the All-NBA Team 6 times. The New York Times named him the best player of the last decade, surpassing star LeBron James. Want more?
8. LeBron James (USA)
- modality: basketball
- Total earnings in 2019: US$ 89 million (R$ 486,1 million)
- How much you earned between salary and bonus: US$ 36 million (R$ 196,6 million)
- How much did you earn from sponsorships?: US$ 53 million (R$ 289,4 million)
LeBron James is one of the greatest basketball players of all time. With over 34 points, he is simply the 3rd highest scorer in NBA history, behind only legends Karl Malone and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He is a three-time NBA champion and named NBA Finals MVP on three occasions. In addition, he accumulates four best of the season awards. A true basketball genius!
7. Aaron Rodgers (USA)
- modality: football
- Total earnings in 2019: US$ 89,3 million (R$ 487,7 million)
- How much you earned between salary and bonus: US$ 80,3 million (R$ 438,6 million)
- How much did you earn from sponsorships?: US$ 9 million (R$ 49,1 million)
The Green Bay Packers quarterback was twice named the best player in the American Football League (NFL) and 8 times selected for the All-Star Game (Pro Bowl). In addition, he became champion of the 45th edition of the Super Bowl (the final of the NFL championship) defending the colors of the Packers. He was named player of the match.
6. Russell Wilson (USA)
- modality: football
- Total earnings in 2019: US$ 89,5 million (R$ 488,8 million)
- How much you earned between salary and bonus: US$ 80,5 million (R$ 439,6 million)
- How much did you earn from sponsorships?: US$ 9 million (R$ 49,1 million)
After renewing his contract with the Seattle Seahawks in 2019, quarterback Russell Wilson became the highest paid football player in the NFL. And his numbers justify such an investment. In 2017, he was the season's leading touchdown passes. He has already been selected for the all-star game 7 times. He won Super Bowl XLVIII playing for the Seahawks.
5. Roger Federer (Switzerland)
- modality: sneakers
- Total earnings in 2019: US$ 93,4 million (R$ 510,1 million)
- How much you earned between salary and bonus: US$ 7,4 million (R$ 40,4 million)
- How much did you earn from sponsorships?: US$ 86 million (R$ 469,7 million)
The highest-paid tennis player in the world holds the record for Grand Slam titles (the most important tournaments in the sport): there are a total of 20 achievements. Another Swiss Federer record is the number of weeks as number 1 in the ATP ranking: there were 310 weeks, between 2004 and 2018! All of this makes Federer one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
4. Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (Mexico)
- modality: boxing
- Total earnings in 2019: US$ 94 million (R$ 513,4 million)
- How much you earned between salary and bonus: US$ 92 million (R$ 502,5 million)
- How much did you earn from sponsorships?: US$ 2 million (R$ 10,9 million)
In 2018, "Canelo" signed the biggest contract ever signed by a sportsman: US$ 365 million (about 2 billion reais) for 5 years with the streaming service DAZN. World champion in 4 divisions, "Canelo"'s record is impressive: 56 fights, 53 wins, 2 draws and only 1 loss (to Floyd Mayweather).
3. Neymar (Brazil)
- modality: football
- Total earnings in 2019: US$ 105 million (R$ 573,5 million)
- How much you earned between salary and bonus: US$ 75 million (R$ 409,6 million)
- How much did you earn from sponsorships?: US$ 30 million (R$ 163,8 million)
Football is today the sport that earns the most money. So much so that the top 3 in the ranking of the best paid athletes are soccer stars. Neymar, the only Brazilian on the list, is famous for his baffling dribbling and decisive goals. Currently defending the colors of Paris Saint-German, he was Libertadores champion in 2011 with Santos, Champions League with Barça in 2015 and Olympic gold with the Brazilian national team in 2016.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
- modality: football
- Total earnings in 2019: US$ 109 million (R$ 595,3 million)
- How much you earned between salary and bonus: US$ 65 million (R$ 355 million)
- How much did you earn from sponsorships?: US$ 44 million (R$ 240,3 million)
No less than 5 times the best player in the world and 3 times the best player in UEFA, CR7 lives up to the fame and money he receives every month. Collectively, his numbers are also impressive: the Portuguese striker has already won 5 Champions Leagues, one of them with Manchester United and 4 defending Real Madrid. For the Portuguese national team, he commanded the team that won Euro 2016.
1. Lionel Messi (Argentina)
- modality: football
- Total earnings in 2019: US$ 127 million (R$ 693,6 million)
- How much you earned between salary and bonus: US$ 92 million (R$ 502,5 million)
- How much did you earn from sponsorships?: US$ 35 million (R$ 191,1 million)
Messi is the record holder for the greatest player in the world titles: 6 times! He is Barcelona's top scorer (a club he has defended professionally since 2003) and the greatest title holder in the Catalan club's history. He is also the best scorer in the history of the Argentine national team, for which he won the gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games. With Barça, he has won 4 Champions Leagues and 3 UEFA Super Cups.
In terms of cash, Messi's numbers are no less impressive. In 2019, he earned something around 57,8 million reais per month, which is almost 2 million reais a day! It's money that never ends...
