The world’s highest paid athletes in the Forbes 2021 ranking

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Place 10: Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets – Basketball (NBA)

The basketball player is currently under contract with the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA. His annual income brings Kevin Durant tenth in the ranking of the highest paid athletes in 2021. The club pays the NBA star a sum of 31 million dollars per year.

But off the field, Kevin Durant earns more: he gets around $ 44 million through advertising contracts. That gave Durant an income last year $ 75 million.

9th place: Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – American Football (NFL)

Brady is considered the best quarterback of all time. He is currently in ninth place in the ranking of the highest-paid athletes. Brady finished 21st in 2019 thanks to his move to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year, with whom he won the Super Bowl title in his first season, the American football player earned US 45 million in the past twelve months -Dollar.

In addition to his own brand TB12, with which he sells food supplements, apps and clothing, the athlete has advertising deals with partners such as Under Armor, IWC Schaffhausen and T-Mobile. These advertising deals bring Brady another $ 31 million into his coffers. The quarterback’s income is currently around Forbes estimates $ 76 million. Brady now has the most lucrative year of his career to date at the age of 43.

8th place: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes – Formula 1

The Formula 1 driver ranks eighth of the highest paid athletes in the world this year. Lewis Hamilton won his seventh world title as a Formula 1 racing driver last year. The Briton thus drew level with the previous record world champion Michael Schumacher. Lewis drives for the Mercedes racing team and earned around 70 million US dollars as a racing driver in 2020/2021.

In addition to his sports salary, Hamilton also earns money with advertising. He has collaborations with the fashion brand Tommy Hilfiger and the energy drink Monster Energy. This means that the Formula 1 driver’s salary last year was around $ 82 million.

7th place: Roger Federer – tennis

The Swiss tennis professional Roger Federer lands in seventh place in this year’s ranking of the world’s highest paid athletes. Last year, the tennis star topped the list with an income of $ 106.3 million. In 2020, his income will be around $ 90 million. His advertising partners include companies such as Mercedes Benz, Credit Suisse, Rolex and Barilla.

Rank 6: Neymar Jr., Paris-Saint-Germain – Fußball

In sixth place among the top earners among professional athletes, according to the “Forbes” ranking in 2021, is the soccer player Neymar Jr .. The Brazilian is under contract with the French first division club Paris-Saint-Germain. There, his salary was about $ 76 million.

Neymar Jr. receives an additional $ 19 million from advertising contracts. His advertising partners include companies such as DAZN, Puma and Red Bull. Taken together, Neymar Jr. receives an annual income of $ 95 million. This makes the Brazilian one of the currently best-paid football players in the world. Only two other footballers earn more than him.

5th place: LeBron James, LA Lakers – Basketball (NBA)

As in the previous year, fifth place in the ranking of the best paid athletes in 2021 goes to LeBron James. The professional basketball player is under contract with the LA Lakers and earns $ 31.5 million a year. LeBron James earns an additional 65 million US dollars through sponsorship agreements with Nike, Pepsi, AT&T and Beats Electronics. That results in an annual income of $ 96.5 million. This means that LeBron James is currently the highest-paid basketball player in the world.

Platz 4: Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys – American Football (NFL)

In fourth place is American football player Dak Prescott according to the “Forbes” 2021 ranking. The Dallas Cowboys quarterback received roughly $ 97.5 million last year. A $ 66 million signing bonus anchored in his new four-year contract ensures Dak Prescott has made more than $ 100 million in the past twelve months.

In addition to his club’s $ 97.5 million salary, he gets $ 10 million through advertising contracts with 7/11 or DirecTV. With an annual income of $ 107.5 million is the quarterback of the highest paid American football player in the world.

Place 3: Cristiano Ronaldo, Juventus Turin – football

In third place of the highest paid athletes in 2021 is the Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. As an attacker at the top Italian club Juventus Turin, the Portuguese earns $ 70 million a year.

His around 288 million Instagram followers make the soccer star a kind of influencer. It is requested by numerous companies as an advertising medium.

As the star of the US sporting goods manufacturer Nike and with several smaller advertising deals, Ronaldo earns an additional 50 million dollars. That results in an annual income of $ 120 million – and third place in the current Forbes ranking of the highest paid athletes.

Place 2: Lionel Messi, FC Barcelona – soccer

Another footballer came second in the ranking: the Argentine professional footballer Lionel Messi. The FC Barcelona superstar is considered one of the best footballers of all time and is therefore not only an asset for his club, but also for numerous advertising partners. FC Barcelona reward Messi for his sporting achievements on the pitch with 97 million US dollars a year.

Lucrative advertising deals with companies like Pepsi, MasterCard or the sporting goods supplier Adidas bring Messi an additional 33 million dollars. This brings the soccer star to a total of $ 130 millionwhat makes him the top earner among footballers.

1st place: Conor McGregor, MMA fighter