Lionel Messi’s Saudi Arabia money plus LIV Golf income sees Forbes’ highest paid list set astonishing record
The highest-paid athletes in the world have set a new record for annual income, and it’s all thanks to the controversial intervention of Saudi Arabia.
has released their top ten list for 2023, and it’s as interesting as ever, having broken the 2018 record of $1.06billion by hitting $1.11bn collectively.
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The American business brand single out the impact of the Saudi Public Investment Fund for the record-breaking year, significantly in terms of LIV Golf, as well as top two Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Ronaldo tops his long-time rival by $6million, earning a whopping $136m thanks to his move from Manchester United to Al Nassr last year.
It’s the first time the Portuguese superstar has finished in first place since 2017, setting a new record for a footballer with $46m from playing, and $90m in endorsements.
However, despite not playing in Saudi like Ronaldo, Messi is still making a hefty income from the Gulf state as a tourism ambassador, a job which has seen him receive a two-week suspension by Paris Saint-Germain for an unauthorised trip.
Fast approaching them is new-entry Kylian Mbappe in third, followed by NBA star LeBron James and boxing king Canelo Alvarez, but in sixth the Saudi influence is back.
Dustin Johnson slots in as the first and biggest name to jump to LIV Golf, securing $102m on-field, but only $5m off it through loss of sponsors.
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Perhaps even more interesting is Phil Mickleson just behind in seventh, another LIV Golf rebel, who appeared to be past his best at 52, but is now back earning with the very best athletes in the world.
NBA superstars Steph Curry and Kevin Durant help round out the top 10 in eighth and tenth, and between them is Roger Federer, who made a miserly $0.1m in on-field earnings during his retirement year, but a staggering $95m in endorsements sees him leave on a high.
Top 10 highest paid athletes in 2023
Cristiano Ronaldo, Football, $136m
Lionel Messi, Football, $130m
Kylian Mbappe, Football, $120m
LeBron James, Basketball, $119.5m
Canelo Alvarez, Boxing, $110m
Dustin Johnson, Golf, $107m
Phil Mickelson, Golf, $106m
Steph Curry, Basketball, $100.4m
Roger Federer, Tennis, $95.1m
Kevin Durant, Basketball, $89.1m
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