Who is the hiest paid athlete in the world?

As of 2023, Lionel Messi is often cited as the highest-paid athlete in the world, primarily due to his lucrative contracts with clubs, endorsements, and business ventures. His earnings are bolstered by significant sponsorship deals with brands like Adidas and Pepsi. Other athletes, such as LeBron James and Cristiano Ronaldo, also rank highly in terms of income, but Messi has consistently topped the list in recent years.