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Lionel Messi He has not lived his best season in Paris. He has been whistled at on several occasions by PSG fans and singled out as one of the culprits in the Parisian club’s disappointing campaign despite winning the Ligue 1 title. The Argentine was harshly criticized after PSG’s elimination from the Champions League against Real Madrid and even from France sowed doubts about its continuity. A season far from what was expected professionally, which, however, has brought him succulent economic benefits.
The striker tops the Forbes 2022 list of the highest-paid athletes in the world for the second time in his life. displacing Conor McGregor, who held first place. Although he reduced his income in terms of the contract that unites him with PSG, he increased it with the sale of the rights to his image.
His image has skyrocketed in Paris
As confirmed yesterday by Forbes, the gross earnings (without the tax discount) of the captain of the Argentine national team in the year will amount to 130 million dollars (almost 124 million euros. That figure is made up of the contract that binds him to Paris Saint Germain (USD 75 million (72 million euros), 22 less than what he received last season at Barcelona), added to 55 million (almost 53 million euros) related to sponsors and image sales, a section that grew exponentially with his move to France. Socios.com, Adidas, Pepsi, Budweiser and Hard Rock Internacional are the most prominent commercial agreements in his portfolio.
Second on the list was an NBA icon: LeBron James. the star of Los Angeles Lakers, who failed to qualify for the playoffs this season, added 121 million dollars (115 million euros). The podium is closed by another footballer: Cristiano Ronaldo. The 37-year-old Portuguese attacker returned to Manchester United and the furor he caused has led him to pocket 115 million dollars (110 million euros).
Mc Gregor and his whiskey disappear
A curious case is that of Conor McGregor. The mixed martial arts fighter topped the list in 2021 with 180 million (about 172 million euros), but 150 of them were linked to the sale of his brand of Irish whiskey. On this occasion, he was outside the top ten, although Forbes He warned that his name will appear among the first 50, when he announces the rest of the members in the coming days.
Combining the income of the 10 highest paid athletes, they arrive at 992 million, the third highest figure since the magazine compiled the ranking. Behind the 1,060 million in 2018 and the 1,050 in 2021.
THE TOP 10 HIGHEST-PAID ATHLETES OF 2022
1-Lionel Messi: $130 million (75 for the contract with PSG and 55 for advertising).
2-LeBron James: $121.2 million (41.2 for his contract with the Lakers and 80 million off the field).
3-Cristiano Ronaldo: $115 million (60 on the field, 55 off it).
4-Neymar: 95 million (70 y 25).
5-Stephen Curry: 92.8 millones (45.8 y 47)
6-Kevin Durant: 92.1 million (42.1 y 50)
7-Roger Federer: 90.7 million (0.7 on the circuit and 90 off the courts).
8-Saúl Canelo Álvarez: 90 million (85 in the ring and 5 outside of it).
9-Tom Brady: 83.9 million (31.9 y 52).
10-Giannis Antetokounmpo: 80.9 million (39.9 and 41).
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