Which person topped Forbes’ 2019 list of the world’s highest-paid athletes?

Lionel Messi topped Forbes’ 2019 list of the world’s highest-paid athletes.

Messi led the ranking after a year in which his Barcelona salary, bonuses and endorsement income combined to exceed the earnings credited to other athletes. Forbes’ highest-paid-athletes list is an earnings ranking, not a net-worth ranking, so it measures money earned during a defined period rather than total accumulated wealth.

The list normally combines salary and prize money with sponsorships, appearance fees and other off-field income. Those categories make comparisons possible across sports, although contract structures and tax arrangements vary widely.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar are frequent football rivals near the top of this ranking. Roger Federer has also led the list in another edition, showing why the year must be included when identifying a Forbes sports-income leader.