Messi became one of the five highest-paid athletes in history

Argentine soccer player Lionel Messi took fifth place in the list of the highest-paid athletes in history, earning $1.85 billion in his career, adjusted for inflation. The corresponding rating of 50 names was published on April 22 by the portal Sportico.

It is indicated that when calculating the top, athletes' salaries, various bonuses, prize money, income from sponsorship contracts and other types of earnings were taken into account. The result was adjusted for inflation.

The winner of the rating by a margin of almost 1.5 times from the second place was basketball player Michael Jordan, who earned $ 4.15 billion adjusted for inflation. It is noted that the financial success of the six-time National Basketball Association (NBA) champion is associated with Nike, which has been generating income for him for decades.

Golfer Tiger Woods came in second place with a score of $2.79 billion, followed by Ronaldo with $2.23 billion, according to the newspaper.Ru». Basketball player LeBron James took the fourth place, earning $1.88 billion.

After Messi, golfers Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, soccer player David Beckham, tennis player Roger Federer and boxer Floyd Mayweather complete the top 10 in earnings.

The quadruple payment is red: how Kondratyuk became the highest paid figure skater in the world

Russian athletes earn at the level of foreigners despite international isolation

Earlier, Sportico published a rating of the highest-paid athletes by the end of 2024. Then the top was headed by Ronaldo, who earned $260 million. Basketball player Stephen Curry took the second place, and boxer Tyson Fury took the third.