Cristiano Ronaldo overtakes Floyd Mayweather Jr, Lionel Messi to become world's highest paid sportsman

Cristiano Ronaldo top the highest paid athlete in the world after raking in a cool $88 million in the last year alone. The superstar footballer usurped long-term leader Floyd Mayweather Jnr into first place. The retired boxer, who fought just once in the last 12 months, earned $50 million. 

Ronaldo's monster pay-packet was the result of his eye-watering £38.5million-a-year salary with Spanish giants Real Madrid and endorsement deals with the likes of Nike, watchmaker Tag Heuer and nutrition supplements group Herbalife - themselves worth £22million. 

Cristiano Ronaldo overtakes Floyd Mayweather Jr, Lionel Messi to become world's highest paid sportsman

His footballing rival Lionel Messi - who the 31-year-old beat to be crowned the World Player of the Year in January - was second on the list, taking home $81 million in 2015/16.

It is the first time since 2001 that an athlete other than Mayweather Jnr or golfer Tiger Woods topped the earning league.

Former world number one Woods has not won a single tournament since 2013 and missed most of the last year recovering from surgery on his back.

However, his name alone continued to bank him millions. He earned £31million from endorsement deals with brands including Nike and Titleist, placing him 12th in the list of top earners.

Mayweather Jnr - who is capable of demanding £70million a fight - fell to 16th. He pocketed £20million in ring fees with an additional £5million coming mostly from his clothing brand TMT, The Money Team.

Hanging on the coat tails of Ronaldo and Messi are NBA star LeBron James (£53million) and tennis player Roger Federer (£46million).

Despite relatively low comparative competition earnings and salary, the pair were the two highest earners in regards to endorsement deals last year, with 17-time Grand Slam champion Federer earning £41million.

The top Brit earner was F1 driver Lewis Hamilton, who took home £31million after a year that saw him crowned world champion for the second time.

Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy - who has a whopping £120million deal with Nike - earned £29million.

On a club perspective, Barcelona FC were paid more than any other team through sponsorship deals. The La Liga champions current agreement is thought to bring in £117million-a-year. 

Ronaldo and Messi are the only football players in the top 20, which also features no women.