Cristiano Ronaldo become the world’s highest-paid athletes

Cristiano Ronaldo has been named as the world’s highest-paid athlete in 2016 by American business magazine Forbes.

Ronaldo is the first footballer to ever top the annual list of the world’s 100 highest-paid athletes, having earned $88m in 1year, $6.6m more than Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, who is second.

Ronaldo’s total put him ahead of fellow footballer Lionel Messi, who picked up $81.4m over the past 12 months, while basketball star LeBron James was third with $77.2m.

James earned more than the Barcelona and Real Madrid players in endorsements ($54m), although his $23.2m salary was dwarfed by the wages of Ronaldo and Messi ($53.4m).

There are five British player in the top 100, led by Lewis Hamilton in 11th on $46m, with Rory McIlroy at 17 ($42.6m), Gareth Bale at 25 ($35.9m), Wayne Rooney at 49 ($26.1m) and Andy Murray at 74 ($23m).

Endorsements make up £32m of Ronaldo’s earnings and this is the first year since 2000 that someone other than Tiger Woods or Floyd Mayweather has led the way.

Indeed, Woods has dropped down to No 12, with his $274,000 by far the least amount in terms of salary and winnings. Fortunately for the 14-time major winner, he garnered $45m in endorsements in the last 12 months.

There are only two women on the list – Serena Williams ($28.9m) at No 40, and Maria Sharapova ($21.9) at No 88.

FedEx Cup winner Jordan Speith ($52.8m) was the biggest climber of the year, moving up from No 85 to No 9. The American, who is 23 in July, is also the youngest on the list, ahead of Barcelona forward Neymar.

Basketball had three players in the top 10 more than any other sport with LeBron James ($77.2) third Kevin Durant ($56.2m) fifth and Kobe Bryant ($50m) in 10th.

There are 10 different sports and 23 countries represented on the list, which is dominated by Americans (65) .

Forbes top-earning athletes 2016