The Highest Earning Top 50 Athletes Last Year

Lionel Messi might not have won European or international honours last year but the Barcelona star was still the highest earning athlete in the world last year.

The six time Ballon d'Or winner was named as the world's best player once again in December but did so without his sides winning the Champions League or Copa America.

According to Forbes, Messi earned an incredible $127 million in 2019 topping the list of the world's 50 highest earning athletes in the world.

50. David Price, basketball - $31.7 million

49. Al Horford, basketball - $32 million

48. Joel Embiid, basketball - $32.1 million

47. Justin Rose, golf - $32.4 million

Rose only won once on the tour last year. Image: PA Images

46. Andres Iniesta, football - $32.5 million

45. DeMar DeRozan, basketball - $32.8 million

44. Paul Pogba, football - $33 million

43. Kyle Lowry, basketball - $33.8 million

42. Carmelo Anthony, basketball - $34 million

40. Klay Thompson, basketball - $34.3 million

=. Gordon Hayward, basketball - $34.3 million

39. Anthony Davis, basketball - $34.6 million

38. Manny Machado, baseball - $34.8 million

37. Rafael Nadal, tennis - $35 million

Another two slams added to Nadal's collection. Image: PA Images

36. Nick Foles, American football - $35.8 million

35. Kei Nishikori, tennis - $37.3 million

34. Brandin Cooks, American football - $38 million

33. Paul George, basketball - $38.6 million

32. Rory McIlroy, golf - $39 million

31. Black Griffin, basketball - $39.1 million

30. Sebastian Vettel, F1 - $40.3 million

Vettel had a poor 2019 on the racetrack. Image: PA Images

29. Damian Lillard, basketball - $41.1 million

28. Aaron Donald, American football, $41.4 million

27. Drew Brees, American football, $42.4 million

26. Giannis Antetokounmpo, basketball, $43.2 million

25. Kyrie Irving, basketball - $43.3 million

24. Chris Paul, basketball - $43.8 million

23. Bryce Harper, baseball - $44.5 million

22. DeMarcus Lawrence, American football - $46.9 million

21. Conor McGregor, MMA - $47 million

McGregor didn't even fight in 2019. Image: PA Images

20. James Harden, basketball - $47.7 million

19. Phil Mickelson, golf - $48.4 million

17. Mike Trout, baseball - $50.6 million

=. Novak Djokovic, tennis - $50.6 million

16. Russell Westbrook, basketball - $53.7 million

13. Khalil Mack, American football - $55 million

=. Anthony Joshua, boxing - $55 million

Joshua last his titles but won them back all in 2019. Image: PA Images

=. Lewis Hamilton, F1 - $55 million

12. Ben Roethlisberger, American football - $55.5 million

11. Tiger Woods, golf - $63.9 million

10. Kevin Durant, basketball - $65.4 million

9. Stephen Curry, basketball - $79.8 million

8. LeBron James, basketball - $89 million

The King continues to be the best paid player in NBA. Image: PA Images

7. Aaron Rodgers, American football - $89.3 million

6. Russell Wilson, American football - $89.5 million

5. Roger Federer, tennis - $93.4 million

4. Canelo Alvarez, boxing - $94 million

3. Neymar, football - $105 million

2. Cristiano Ronaldo, football - $109 million

1. Lionel Messi, football - $127 million

Endorsement wise Cristiano Ronaldo is way ahead of his rival, earning $44 million off the pitch compared with the Argentinian's $35 million.

However even Ronaldo doesn't get paid the most outside of sport with Roger Federer's $86 million the lead in regards to endorsement money.

Topics: Football News, Boxing News, Basketball News, Tennis news, roger federer, Neymar, Lionel Messi, Boxing, NBA, NFL, Canelo Alvarez, Cristiano Ronaldo

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

@Sidler28