Sportico released a list of the 100 highest-paid athletes in the world, which is topped by Cristiano Ronaldo for the second time in a row. Four footballers, two professional boxers, a golfer, and two NBA players made up the top ten. There is not a single woman in the entire list, reflecting the prevalent pay disparity in elite sports. We take a look at seven highest-paid athletes: 

From Cristiano Ronaldo to Lionel Messi: 7 Highest-Paid Athletes in the World 

Cristiano Ronaldo 

Salary: $215 Million  

Endorsements: $45 Million 

Total: $260 Million 

For the second year in a row, Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo emerged as the highest-paid athlete in the world, taking home a whopping $260 million. Ronaldo's main source of income is his salary of $215 million at Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr. He recently signed a one-year extension. 

Stephen Curry 

Salary: $53.8 Million 

Endorsements: $100 Million 

Total: $153.8 Million 

Stephen Curry, the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player and four-time NBA champion at Golden States Warrior, is a global icon in basketball, renowned for his revolutionary three-point shooting. His impact on the game is undeniable, but so is his impact off-court, where he rakes up $100 million in endorsements alone, which is almost twice the salary he gets. Curry's total earnings for the year reached a staggering $153.8 million, solidifying his position as the second-highest-paid athlete in the world. 

Tyson Fury 

Winnings: $140 Million 

Endorsements: $7 Million 

Total: $147 Million 

Also known as 'Gypsy King', Tyson Fury is one of the most celebrated heavyweight boxers in the world, having captured the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO titles once. Fury announced his retirement from boxing, after losing his match against unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. But there are reports of his comeback, for a fight against Anthony Joshua. Despite two heavy defeats, Fury was the highest-paid boxer in the world, with his total earnings coming up to $147M. 

Lionel Messi 

Salary: $60 Million 

Endorsements: $75 Million 

Total: $135 Million 

Lionel Messi's salary of $60 million pales in comparison to what his arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo draws at Al-Nassr, but the Argentine earns way more than the Portugues in endorsements. Messi, who currently plays for Inter Miami, is now the fourth richest athlete in the world. 

LeBron James 

Salary: $48.2M 

Endorsements: $85M 

Total: $133.2M 

LeBron James, the renowned basketball figure, has reached remarkable heights in the NBA. He boasts four NBA championships, four NBA MVP awards, and four NBA Finals MVP awards. James earned a salary of $48.2 million, complemented by an estimated $85 million in endorsements, bringing his total earnings to $133.2 million. 

Neymar 

Salary:$108 Million 

Endorsements: $25 Million 

Total: $133 Million 

Neymar Jr. recently drew the curtains down to his injury-ridden tenure at Al Hilal and returned to his boyhood club Santos on a six-month contract. The Brazilian forward agreed to a significant pay reduction to rejoin his former team. As per Sportico Rich List, Neymar is the sixth highest-paid athlete in the world, with total earnings amounting to $133 million. 

Oleksandr Usyk 

Salary: $120 Million 

Endorsements: $2 Million 

Total: $122 Million 

Oleksandr Usyk is the current undisputed world heavyweight champion, holding the WBA (Super), IBF, and WBO, titles. He earned in excess of $100 million after beating Tyson Fury twice in a row. His total earnings for the last year was $122 million, making him the seventh highest-paid athlete in the world.