Messi beats Ronaldo to top list of 2019 highest paid athletes in the world

Lionel Messi, Barcelona star has emerged as the 2019 highest paid athlete in the world with total value of $127 million.

The Argentine striker beat long time rival Cristiano Ronaldo to the host of elite earners in the world of sports as listed by Forbes.

Ronaldo joined Juventus last summer but his move to the Italian League giants failed to help him secure the top spot on the ranking as he was valued $107 million in the year under review.

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The 34-year-old won the Serie A title in his first season at the club, and was also awarded the most valuable player for the season.

He scored 21 goals in 31 league appearances for the Old Lady, while his tally for the season stood at 27 in all competition.

Embattled Paris Saint Germain superstar Neymar ranks third behind the Argentine and the Portuguese.

The 27-year-old joined the French League giants as the world's most expensive player from Barcelona in 2017.

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But injury and assault cases have ridden him of some benefits he could have have access to.

Mexican professional boxer Canelo Alvarez comes next to the Brazilian as the fourth most paid athlete in 2019.

The 28-year-old who has only lost just one of his last 44 fights is valued at $94 million and becomes the only boxer in the top five positions.

Roger Federer competes the top five most paid athlete having being valued around 93.4 million for the year 2019.

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Meanwhile, below is the top ten list of the most paid athletes in the world for the year 2019:

Lionel Messi $127 million

Cristiano Ronaldo $109 million

Neymar Jr. $105 million

Canelo Alvarez $94 million

Roger Federer $93.4 million

Russel Wilson $89.5 million

Aaron Rodgers $89.3 million

Lebron James $89 million

Steph Curry $78.5 million

Kevin Durrant $65.4 million

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