Top 10 Richest Sports Stars of 2022 Revealed As Messi Tops Charts

• Paris Saint-Germain forward Lionel Messi has emerged as the best-paid athlete of 2022
• The World Cup winner is understood to have banked a massive £108-million this year
• The top 10 is dominated by football stars, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar included

Paris Saint-Germain superstar Lionel Messi has ranked top among the richest sports stars of 2022.

Messi beat a host of top athletes in the world of football, basketball, boxing and Formula One to top the list.

The 35-year-old has enjoyed a fantastic year that saw him win the World Cup for the first time in his illustrious career.

The ex-Barcelona icon was pivotal in Argentina's World Cup campaign in Qatar, as he helped the South American football giants win the tournament for the first time since 1986.

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Football

However, it seems that Messi had an equally great year off the pitch, with The Sun reporting that he was the highest-paid sports star in 2022.

According to the publication, citing Forbes, the veteran striker pocketed an eyewatering £108-million to emerge as the richest sporting star of the year.

The earnings include £1.2-million a week in wages he earns at PSG and his deals with Adidas, Budweiser, PepsiCo and Hard Rock.

2022's richest sporting stars

Basketballer LeBron James is placed second on the list, with earnings of £101-million during the year under review.

Despite having his contract terminated at Manchester United back in November, Cristiano Ronaldo still made the top three.

Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar Jr. also made the top five.

Below are the top 10 highest-paid athletes of 2022:

10. Giannis Antetokounmpo: Basketball - £67m

9. Tom Brady: American Football - £70m

8. Canelo Alvarez: Boxing - £75m

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Football

7. Roger Federer: Tennis - £75m

6. Kevin Durant: Basketball - £77m

5. Stephen Curry: Basketball - £77m

4. Neymar: Football - £79m

3. Cristiano Ronaldo: Football - £96m

2. Lebron James: Basketball - £101m

1. Lionel Messi: Football - £108m

Messi surprises players with gifts

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that in 2020, PSG forward Messi sent Christmas packages to 160 players, including 13 playing in the English Premier League.

The former Barcelona captain is currently the man of the moment, having recently won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with Argentina.

It was also the first time that Messi won the coveted Mundial after five attempts, with many fans still celebrating the veteran's success.