Conor McGregor Set To Usurp Cristiano Ronaldo In Sport's Richest List

Conor McGregor just had to go ten rounds with Floyd Mayweather and talk nonsense for months in the build up to the fight to over take Cristiano Ronaldo on sport's richest list, I'd certainly do it for less.

Plenty of boxing purists tell us the 'real' fight is coming in a couple of weeks when Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez takes on Gennady Golovkin but we all know that the biggest 'event' in boxing's calendar for 2017 was at the weekend.

In fairness that's also saying something considering that this year we've already seen Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko attract 90,000 to Wembley but McGregor vs Mayweather definitely takes the title, even if it's just for the build up.

_{Joshua finishing Klitschko's career is a sporting highlight of the year so far. Image: PA}

Every year financial heavyweights Forbes put together a list of the richest sports stars of the year and last year before his first professional boxing fight McGregor found himself 24th on the list, level with Gareth Bale and ahead of tennis star Kei Nishikori.

But the Mail report that his one night tango with Mayweather is set to boost him ahead of last year's number one, Cristiano Ronaldo, although he won't actually be number one on the rankings himself.

_{McGregor's reputation arguably only grew despite his loss to Mayweather in 10 rounds. Image: PA}

The paper report that the mega fight will earn the Irishman £77 million and that's before endorsements are included which Forbes takes into consideration along with wages and bonuses.

Earlier in the year Ronaldo, who was number one with $93 million last year, visited McGregor in training with the 'Notorious' saying, "You were number one on the Forbes list, I was like number 35 or something. I'll get up. Maybe next year I'll get you." Ronaldo replied saying, "I don't think so."

_{McGregor and Ronaldo 'square up' with each other. Image: Instagram}

Mayweather is set to be number one for the year, of course, having pocketed even more money from his fight than McGregor and even if the UFC star goes on to have another fight this year he'll be further down the list than the man who retired on 50-0.

It's an incredible rise for the 28 year-old and with Mayweather retiring who would bet against McGregor being top of the charts sometime soon?

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Topics: mayweather, mcgregor, 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.

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