Cristiano Ronaldo Tops Forbes's Best Paid Athlete List of 2016

Forbes released this year’s list of the best paid athletes around the world. Cristiano Ronaldo is this year’s best paid athlete; Lets take a look at why he’s the best paid athlete and how he compares to the top 5.

AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images)

Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo poses with his trophy of Best Men’s player in Europe at the end of the UEFA Champions League Group stage draw ceremony, on August 25, 2016 in Monaco. AFP PHOTO / VALERY HACHE / AFP / VALERY HACHE (Photo credit should read VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images)

1. Cristiano Ronaldo ($88 million)

The Portuguese forward tops this year’s list with a staggering $88 million. $56 million comes just from his salary with the club, while the rest comes from sponsorships from various brands, including Nike, Tag Heuer, Sacoor Brothers suits and Monster headphones. The Portuguese is considered the most marketable soccer player at the moment. He won the Champions League and Euro 2016, making him the only player to have won both european tournaments this year, so don’t expect him to take a pay cut anytime soon.

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND – JANUARY 11: FIFA Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi of Argentina and Barcelona accepts his award during the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala 2015 at the Kongresshaus on January 11, 2016 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Stuart Franklin – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

2. Lionel Messi ($81.4 million)

The Argentine is the runner-up this year, with a grand total of $81.4 million this year. He won the Ballon d’Or this year, making him the best player in the world according to FIFA for the year 2015. Most recently, the argentine was hit with lawsuit for tax evasion. A Spanish court found Messi guilty and the Argentine was sentenced to 21 months in prison, although he almost certainly will serve the time as probation instead of behind bars. We’ll have to see how he fares next year, and if the conviction or recent change to bleached hair will do anything for his marketability.

LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 13: NBA player LeBron James accepts the Best Male Athlete award onstage during the 2016 ESPYS at Microsoft Theater on July 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

3. Lebron James ($77.2 million)

Lebron James comes in at #3 this year, with $77.2 million. The Basketball star received the Best Male Athlete award at the ESPYS this year, so it’s no wonder that his salary comes in at $77.2 million. With Endorsements by Nike for his signature shoe, as well as all his other endorsements with Upper Deck, Coca Cola, Bubblicious, State Farm, Microsoft, McDonald’s, Samsung and Kia, he made $54 million in endorsements this year.

NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 24: Roger Federer and John McEnroe pose for a photo during a Laver Cup media announcement St Regis Hotel on August 24, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

4. Roger Federer ($67.8 million)

The swiss tennis superstar comes in at #4 this year, with a grand total of $67.8 million earned this year. Federer is the most decorated tennis player in history, and is also the most paid athlete when it comes to endorsements. Federer made $60 million just in endorsements. The tennis player is endorsed by Nike, Rolex, Mercedes-Benz and Credit Suisse. With endorsements from those companies, it’s no wonder that he made roughly 89% of his total earnings just in endorsements.

Aug 5, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; USA basketball player Kevin Durant during the opening ceremonies for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Maracana. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

5. Kevin Durant ($56.2 million)

Kevin Durant comes in at #5, with $56.2 million, with $36 million in endorsements. The basketball star signed a two-year with Golden State earlier this year, and won the gold medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Kevin Durant is endorsed by Neff and Footlocker, but his biggest endorsement deal is with Nike, which signed Durant to an extension in 2014 worth as much as $300 million over 10 years.