With the global sporting landscape constantly evolving, the question of who is no 1 athlete in the world is an interesting one. From football, basketball, baseball, tennis, and golf to racing, these athletes will command massive salaries and endorsement deals that will see them earn millions of dollars every year.
In just a few years, the list of the top 10 highest paid athletes could look very different from what it looks like today. However, let’s take a look at some of the athletes who are set to command the highest fees in 2022. We’ll keep an eye on the topic in 2023 and will make similar list of the highest paid athletes of 2023.
Table of Contents
Highest Paid Athletes in 2022 – Ranking
Who is the highest paid athlete in the world? We have many fantastic players that have relatively high ratings and are considered the highest-paid athletes in the world. Let’s review some names that have already achieved tremendous success in the world of sports.
| Position | Player | Earnings |
| 1 | Lionel Messi | $130 Million |
| 2 | LeBron James | $121 million |
| 3 | Cristiano Ronaldo | $115 million |
| 4 | Neymar | $95 million |
| 5 | Stephen Curry | $92.8 million |
| 6 | Kevin Durant | $92 million |
| 7 | Roger Federer | $90.7 million |
| 8 | Canelo Alvarez | $90 million |
| 9 | Tom Brady | $83.9 million |
| 10 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | $80.9 million |
Lionel Messi
- Sport: Football
- Country: Argentina
- Earning: $130 million
You will hardly find anyone who has never heard the name of this legendary footballer. He is the captain of the Argentina national team and one of the highest paid athletes of all time. Currently, he is a forward for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain. If you have a look at all football ratings, you can see that he always takes the best positions. Moreover, this man is considered the greatest footballer of all time. He holds seven Ballon d’Or awards and six European Golden shoes.
However, he spent his professional career with Barcelona, where he managed to win a club-record 35 trophies. At this very moment, he is considered the best-earning footballer in the world.
LeBron James
- Sport: Basketball
- Country: USA
- Earning: $121 million
LeBron James is a professional basketball player from the USA. Currently, he is playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. Well known as “King James,” he is considered one of the most talented basketball players of all time.
He holds four NBA MVP awards, three All-Star MVP awards, and two Olympic Gold medals. Beyond this, he also was chosen as an NBA All-Star 18 times. In addition, he has played for other teams like the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Cristiano Ronaldo
- Sport: Football
- Country: Portugal
- Earning: $115 million
Cristiano Ronaldo is a legendary footballer from Portugal. He plays as a forward for Manchester United and captains the Portugal national team. Ronaldo is regarded as one of the most successful footballers in the world and boasts five Ballon d’Or awards.
In general, he holds 32 football trophies, including five UEFA Champions Leagues and one UEFA Nations League. Moreover, he also holds numerous records such as most goals (140), most international appearances (186), and the like.
Neymar
- Sport: Football
- Country: Brazil
- Earning: $95 million
Neymar is a football player that needs no introduction. Neymar is a legendary Brazilian footballer who plays as a forward for Paris Saint-Germain and, of course, the national team of his country.
The most important thing that you should know about this footballer is that he is a versatile player because he can play as a central or second striker and even as an attacking midfielder. Beyond this, he is also the second-highest goalscorer on his national team.
Stephen Curry
- Sport: Basketball
- Country: USA
- Earning: $92,8 million
Stephen Curry is a professional American basketball player. He plays for the Golden State Warriors and is considered to be one of the most powerful point guards in NBA history. Moreover, he was also awarded the NBA Most Valuable Player twice.
His father and brother were also talented NBA players. Therefore, Stephen Curry decided to follow in his family’s footsteps and become a basketball player, and he managed to achieve success in this area!
Kevin Durant
- Sport: Basketball
- Country: USA
- Earning: $92 million
If you love basketball and prefer betting on this sport, this name needs no introduction for you. He is a well-known American professional basketball player, playing for the Brooklyn Nets. He managed to win the 2013-2014 NBA Most Valuable Player award.
What is so special about this player? The thing is that he is a talented basketball player with a versatile skill set and fantastic shooting range. Today, he is regarded as the most potent scorer in the NBA.
Roger Federer
- Sport: Tennis
- Country: Switzerland
- Earning: $90.7 million
All tennis fans know this name. Roger Federer is the most paid athlete in the world, ranked number one by the ATP for 310 weeks. In general, he managed to win 103 ATP singles titles and 20 Grand Slam awards. It’s a pleasure to watch his games as absolutely each aspect is executed perfectly and effortlessly with much grace.
Federer made his professional debut in 1998. He has won several prestigious tournaments, including Wimbledon (8 times), the US Open (5 times), and the Australian Open (6 times). In addition to his singles victories, he has also won 20 Grand Slam titles in men’s singles.
Canelo Alvarez
- Sport: Box
- Country: Mexico
- Earning: $90 million
If you love boxing and prefer betting on this sport, you simply can’t pass by this athlete. He is a professional Mexican boxer who holds numerous awards in world championships in four weight classes. Beyond this, he also holds unified and lineal titles. Moreover, he is the first boxer who managed to become an undisputed champion at super middleweight. Therefore, this man is surely worth your bet!
Tom Brady
- Sport: American football
- Country: USA
- Earning: $83.9 million
Tom Brady is an American football quarterback who is currently playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL. He is the only player who won 7 Super Bowls and is considered one of the best NFL players of all time.
Previously he played for the New England Patriots and spent 20 seasons with this team. Overall, he is considered the most successful quarterback of all time.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Sport: Basketball
- Country: Greece
- Earning: $80.9 million
There’s nothing more exciting than watching basketball matches where Giannis Antetokounmpo is playing. He is one of the most successful and talented basketball players. Today, he is playing for the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA.
In 2013, he was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 15th overall pick in the NBA draft. Since then, he has gone on to establish himself as one of the best players in the league. In the 2016-17 season, he became the first player in NBA history who finished a regular season in the top 20 (including rebounds, total points, steals, and assists).
FAQ
Who is the highest-paid athlete of 2022?
Lionel Messi is considered the highest paid athlete in 2022.
Which athlete made the most money in 2021?
Lionel Messi made the most money in 2021. His general income is $130 million.
Who is the first billionaire athlete?
Michael Jordan was the first basketball player who became a billionaire.
Conclusion
It is always a good idea to find out more about players before betting on them! As a result, when you know everything about top paid athletes, it will be easier for you to evaluate the chances of a team to win the match. So, never neglect this tip, and always learn more about the most paid athletes in the world before placing your bets. At Parimatch, we have everything for successful betting, ranging from informative blog posts that might help you learn who is who to the most lucrative odds to timely payouts and superb bonuses.
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