Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are the two best paid sportsmen on the planet, according to a list put together by Forbes.
The report counts the income of athletes in 2016 and places Ronaldo as the leader for the first time in his career with total earnings of 77.2 million euros. Of that amount, 28 million is from his Real Madrid contract; the rest from sponsors.
Messi has moved up to second position, the highest place in the career of the Barcelona star. His total income is said to be 71.4 million.
Throughout the last six years, Ronaldo has always been ahead of Messi. Last year, the Portugueser was third and the Argentine fourth. Two years ago, Ronaldo was second, while Messi was fourth.
In 2013, Ronaldo was ninth and Messi 10th. As for 2012, Messi was not among the top 10, while the Madrid man was ninth. And in 2011, Ronaldo was sixth; Messi ninth.
The two 'cracks' have forced boxer Floyd Mayweather out of top spot. He had led the standings in three of the last four years.
Cleveland Cavaliers' Lebron James completes the podium with 67.7 million. Tennis player Roger Federer (59.46 million) and Oklahoma Thunder basketballer Kevin Durant (49.29 million) are fourth and fifth respectively.
As for the top 10, Novak Djokovic (tennis), Cam Newton (American football), Phil Mickelson (golf), Jordan Spieth (golf) and Kobe Bryant (basketball) follow on from Durant.
