Top 10 highest-paid athletes in the world

The year 2020 brought hard times to the world of sport, with a number of athletes seeing their salaries reduced due to the coronavirus outbreak. Despite the situation, there are some athletes that have managed to improve their income and gain more money both on and off the field. Let's take a look at the top 10 highest-paid athletes in 2021, as per Forbes. These sportsmen impress not only with their skills in a particular sport but also with their gainings to be the richest ones in the world. It should be noted that on-the-field earnings include:

• All prize money
• Salaries and bonuses earned between May 1, 2020, and May 1, 2021

Meanwhile, off-the-field earnings include:

• Sponsorship deals
• Appearance fees
• Licensing income for the 12 months through May 1, plus cash returns from any businesses operated by the athlete

10. Kevin Durant

Sport: Basketball Nationality: US Age: 33 Earnings: $75M Image Source: Getty Images Brooklyn Nets star had to be out of action during the 2019/20 season due to his Achilles injury. However, it didn't prevent him to search for new opportunities off the field. The 33-year-old faced real success with Boardroom and his firm Thirty Five Ventures as a media mogul. He has also been the executive producer of Two Distant Strangers, which was awarded the Oscar for best live-action. The story of the financial success continued, with the NBA player purchasing a stake in MLS’s Philadelphia Union.

9. Tom Brady

Sport: American Football  Nationality: US Age: 44 Earnings: $76M Image Source: Getty Images Tampa Bay Buccaneer's footballer gets most part of his income from his professional career, though off the field earnings are also very noticeable. Brady has collected big money as a speaker and a commercial pitchman. His wellness brand TB12 has been another factor in the financial rise, while the 44-year-old has also launched a film production company and an NFT platform.

8. Lewis Hamilton

Sport: Formula 1 Nationality: UK Age: 36 Earnings: $82M Image Source: Getty Images Hamilton has mostly benefited from his wins in major Formula 1 tournaments, having earned $70M as a Mercedes driver. His earnings include bonus payments from the brands he corresponds with, including Tommy Hilfiger, Monster Energy and Puma. The F1 star also founded a team on the Extreme E racing series.

7. Roger Federer

Sport: Tennis Nationality: Switzerland Age: 40 Earnings: $90M Image Source: Getty Images A long-term knee injury prevented Federer from shining as a tennis star. However, in that period, the Swiss star managed to earn $90M off the field, getting $0.03M from his professional career. The 40-year-old's main income is currently the result of sponsorships with brands like Rolex, Credit Suisse, and Uniqlo.

6. Neymar

Sport: Football Nationality: Brazil  Age: 29 Earnings: $95M Image Source: Getty Images The Brazilian star gets the most part of his earnings ($76M) as a footballer. It is not surprising as now he plays in one of the richest clubs in the world - PSG. Meanwhile, the 29-year-old is the third popular player on social media (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The attacker is also a brand ambassador for Puma.

5. LeBron James

Sport: Basketball  Nationality: US  Age: 36 Earnings: $96.5M Image Source: Getty Images Despite his age, LeBron is not showing any signs of slowing down. He is still one of the best NBA stars in the world. Amid his professional career with Los Angeles Lakers, recently the basketball player has debuted as a Hollywood leading man Space Jam: A New Legacy and started his partnership with PepsiCo after leaving Coca-Cola. LeBron has also purchased a small stake in Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Boston Red Sox, Liverpool FC and Roush Fenway Racing.

4. Dak Prescott

Sport: American Football  Nationality: US  Age: 28 Earnings: $107.5M Image Source: Getty Images Things seem to go well for the quarterback as he plays for the world’s most valuable sports team - Dallas Cowboys. Their endorsement portfolio already includes Sleep Number, 7/11 and DirecTV. The 28-year-old has also announced about investing in four Texas locations of the restaurant chain Walk-On’s.

3. Cristiano Ronaldo

Sport: Football  Nationality: Portugal   Age: 36 Earnings: $120M Image Source: Getty Images The Portuguese star is currently the highest-paid Premier League player after his move to Manchester United in the summer of 2021. This makes him one of the richest footballers in the world, while his off-the-field earnings should be taken into consideration as well. Ronaldo has become the first person in the world to reach more than 500 million followers across Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. He is also in active partnership with various clothing, accessories, hotel, and gym brands.

2. Lionel Messi

Sport: Football  Nationality: Argentina Age: 34 Earnings: $130M Image Source: Getty Images Former Barcelona icon, who currently plays for PSG, is the 2nd in our top, having earned <$97M from his professional career. Like Ronaldo, Messi also partners with a number of brands. He has a lifetime sponsorships deal with the largest sportswear manufacturer in Europe - Adidas.

1. Conor McGregor

Sport: MMA Nationality: Ireland Age: 33 Earnings: $180M Image Source: Getty Images McGregor tops the list of the highest-paid athletes in the world. The 33-year-old MMA star mostly makes money from his sale of whiskey brand Proper No. Twelve. He is also buttressing an endorsement portfolio that includes DraftKings, the video game Dystopia: Contest of Heroes and the lifestyle brand Roots of Fight. Here are on-the-field and off-the-field earnings of the top 10 highest-paid athletes in the world.