NEW YORK • Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo remained atop Forbes magazine's list of 100 highest-paid athletes, with the Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James moving up to second on a list dominated by National Basketball Association (NBA) players.
The 32-year-old Portugal forward is estimated to have earned a total of US$93 million (S$128 million) with his football salary of US$58 million and US$35 million in endorsement income.
It is the second straight year he has topped the list, released on Wednesday, just days after he spearheaded a 4-1 victory over Juventus that made Real Madrid the first team to retain the Champions League title.
James, with estimated earnings of US$86.2 million, was one of 32 NBA players who made the top 100 - up from 18 last year.
He took over second place from Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi, now third with US$80 million.
Swiss tennis great Roger Federer (US$64 million) and Golden State Warriors guard Kevin Durant (US$60.6 million) rounded out the top five - just as they did last year.
The Forbes figures include salaries, prize money and bonuses earned between June 1, 2016, and June 1, 2017.
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HIGHEST-PAID ATHLETES IN 2017 (US$M)
93.0 Cristiano Ronaldo (football)
86.2 LeBron James (basketball)
80.0 Lionel Messi (football)
64.0 Roger Federer (tennis)
60.6 Kevin Durant (basketball)
50.0 Rory McIlroy (golf)
50.0 Andrew Luck (American football)
47.3 Stephen Curry (basketball)
46.6 James Harden (basketball)
46.0 Lewis Hamilton (Formula One)
Endorsement incomes are an estimate of sponsorships, appearance fees and licensing incomes for the same 12-month period based on conversations with industry insiders.
Serena Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam winner, was the lone woman on the list with an estimated income of US$27 million - US$19 million of which came from endorsements - to place her 51st overall.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
