By Ben Church, CNNDespite a disappointing season on the pitch, Paris Saint-Germain star Lionel Messi was the highest-paid athlete in the world over the last 12 months, according to Forbes. Messi, who earns a reported $75 million a year from playing soccer, also cashes in on $55 million from sponsorship deals and endorsements. It’s the second time the Argentine sits atop Forbes’ list, the last time coming in 2019. NBA superstar James comes in a narrow second on the rich list, earning $121.2 million a year. The Portuguese superstar earns the same as Messi off-field with the majority coming from his unrivaled social media presence.

Source: Forbes May 12, 2022 20:55 UTC