Neymar is Fifth Best Paid Athlete in the World, Overtaking LeBron, Curry and Federer

By Xiu Ying, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Neymar is among the top five of the world’s best-paid athletes in 2019.

The Paris Saint-Germain star made it to the “Forbes” list, the famous US magazine for business and economics ranking fifth, earning €80 million (approximately R$ 352 million).

Neymar is the only Brazilian on the list and is behind boxer Floyd Mayweather, striker Lionel Messi coming second, striker Cristiano Ronaldo in third, and MMA fighter Conor McGregor in fourth.

The Brazilian team’s number 10 overtook basketball stars LeBron James (sixth) and Stephen Curry (eighth) as well as tennis player Roger Federer (seventh).

The best paid in recent years, Mayweather leads with an annual income of €253 million (approximately USD$1.113 billion). Even with infrequent fights in the year, the last of them against McGregor, the world champion still earns millions in pay.

The difference between him and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi is immense, as the Argentinian makes €98 million a year.

Top 10:
1st – Floyd Mayweather: €253 million
2nd – Lionel Messi: €98 million
3rd – Cristiano Ronaldo: €96 million
4th – Conor McGregor: €88 million
5th – Neymar: €80 million
6th – LeBron James: €76 million
7th – Roger Federer: €68 million
8th – Stephen Curry: €68 million
9th – Matt Ryan: €59 million
10th – Matthew Stafford: €53 million