Sports

Messi Tops Forbes’ Highest-paid Athlete List For 2022 [Full List]

Published

3 years ago

May 12, 2022

Lionel Messi was the world’s highest-paid athlete over the last year, according to the annual Forbes list released on Wednesday that had the Paris Saint-Germain forward ahead of the NBA’s LeBron James and Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi earned $130million (£107m), a figure which includes $55million (£45m) of endorsements, during the 12-month period ended May 1, 2022, to sit atop the list of the 10 highest-paid athletes a year after finishing second to Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor.

McGregor has now fallen out of the top 10 and hasn’t fought since his defeat by Dustin Poirier last summer, when he broke his leg in the fight, and his earnings have taken a hit as a consequence. He was estimated to have earned £127m last year.

Sir Lewis Hamilton is another notable omission. Last year he was eighth in the list with £58m, a decline of almost half on 2020, and this time around he does not make the top 10 at all.

Messi, meanwhile, left boyhood club Barcelona last summer and headed to France with Paris Saint-Germain.

But an interesting facet of the Forbes report is that he has earned £45m in endorsement.

He has taken on an array of sponsorships outside of football, some of which have been controversial.

Just this week, he was pictured shortly after landing in Saudi Arabia as an ambassador for tourism, despite families of prisoners of conscience in the country urging him earlier this year not to get involved in any partnerships with the nation.

Los Angeles Lakers forward James is second on the list after bringing home a combined $121million (£99m), shattering the $96.5million (£79m) record for an NBA player that he set last year, while Ronaldo earned $115million (£94m) to sit third.

The Portugal captain sealed an emotional return to United last summer, leaving Italian giants Juventus after three seasons. He also turned down a $6m offer to work commercially with Saudi Arabia last year.

His £385,000-a-week wage will fall next season though if he remains at United. The Red Devils have failed to qualify for the lucrative Champions League next season and as Sportsmail reported on the weekend, it means Ronaldo will earn £288,000-a-week at United if he’s there for the 2022-23 season.

Brazil and PSG star Neymar, Messi’s team-mate, ($95million – £78m) and three-time NBA champion Stephen Curry ($92.8million – £76m) of the Golden State Warriors rounded out the top five.

FORBES TOP 10 RICH LIST
1: Lionel Messi – £107m ($130m)

2: LeBron James – £99m ($121m)

3: Cristiano Ronaldo – £94m ($115m)

4: Neymar – £78m ($95m)

5: Stephen Curry – £76m ($92.8m)

6: Kevin Durant – £74.8m ($92m)

7: Roger Federer – £74.4m ($90.7m)

8: Canelo Alvarez – £73.7m ($90m)

9: Tom Brady – £68.7m ($83.9m)

10: Giannis Antetokounmpo – £66.3m ($80.9m)

NBA player Kevin Durant ($92million – £74.8m) was sixth while Swiss tennis great Roger Federer, who played five tournaments in 2021 before a knee operation curtailed his season, was third with total earnings of $90.7million (£74.4m).

There had been fears that those knee issues could force Federer, who is now 40, into retirement.

While he is yet to play in 2022, he shared pictures from the gym on his Instagram account last month with the caption ‘rehab is rockingggg’.

The final three spots on the list went to Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez ($90million – £73.7m), seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady ($83.9million – £68.7m) and reigning NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo ($80.9million – £66.3m).

Alvarez was surprisingly beaten by Dmitry Bivol at the weekend, the first loss of his career, but defeated Billy Joe Saunders last May in a hotly anticipated showdown.

Brady, 44, announced his NFL retirement earlier this year, only to change his mind and agree to one more season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

While the details of Brady’s 2022 deal with the Bucs is unclear, last year’s terms saw him earn in the region of $25m.

Forbes said its on-the-field earnings figures include all prize money, salaries and bonuses earned during the 12-month period while off-field earnings are an estimate of sponsorship deals, appearance fees and licensing income.

PUNCH.

Sports

2026 World Cup: All You Need To Know About South Africa Vs Nigeria Match

Published

1 day ago

September 8, 2025

Editor

The Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein will take centre stage on Tuesday as South Africa’s Bafana Bafana host the Super Eagles of Nigeria in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

With Group C reaching its climax, both teams are under pressure to get a result. South Africa aims to solidify its position at the top of the group, while Nigeria is desperate for a win to keep its World Cup hopes alive.

Current standings

Bafana Bafana lead the group on 16 points after sweeping aside Lesotho 3-0 in their last outing. Nigeria trails in third with 10 points, just one shy of Benin Republic, who sit second. On Sunday, the Eagles narrowly edged Rwanda 1-0 to stay in the race.

Eagles under pressure

Nigeria’s inconsistent form—only two wins in five matches—means this tie could prove pivotal. Adding to the challenge, Hugo Broos’ South Africa are on a three-match unbeaten run at home and have won three qualifiers in a row.

Injury watch and key battles

The availability of Victor Osimhen remains uncertain after the striker suffered a knock against Rwanda.

Historically, Nigeria hold a slight edge in the rivalry with two wins in their last seven meetings.

Still, the South Africa team has been tough to beat on home soil, avoiding defeat in their last three games against the Eagles, including a 1-1 stalemate in 2024.

Rivalry

Nigeria’s last away win against South Africa came at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Securing another statement victory on Tuesday would provide a huge boost to their qualification hopes.

Kickofft

The clash kicks off at 5 p.m. Nigerian time on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.

Fans can follow the action live on SuperSport, SportyBet TV, and AfroSport.

Sports

Why I Won’t Let My Siblings Play In NPFL —Ex-Eagles Midfielder Haruna Lukman

Published

1 day ago

September 8, 2025

Editor

Former Super Eagles midfielder, Haruna Lukman , has stated that he will never recommend any of his siblings to play in the Nigerian league.

Speaking during an interview on The Abu Azeez Podcast and sighted by PUNCH Online on Monday, the ex-Nigerian international said the Nigerian league is characterised by match fixing, citing a recent match between Rivers FC against Ikorodu City.

“The Nigerian Premier League is very poor, I am very sorry to say. They do not respect the senior ones who played in Europe, because coming down to play in Nigeria, they need to show us some respect. It is not easy to win something abroad, and when you decide to come back home to play, they offer you peanuts.

“For me Nigerian league is out of it, because I don’t see the Nigerian league as a league. I watched a competition they played at Onikan, it was my first time witnessing it. I went to watch Rivers against Ikorodu City. I sat down at the VIP and witnessed all sorts of match fixing by the referees, favouring one team against the other. I can’t advise any of my siblings or any of my siblings to play in the Nigerian league, ” he said.

Sports

FULL LIST: 17 Nations Secure 2026 FIFA World Cup Spots

Published

1 day ago

September 8, 2025

Editor

As the excitement builds for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, 17 nations from around the world have officially secured their places in football’s most prestigious tournament. With the expanded 48-team format, qualification has taken on new intensity, and several countries have already emerged from their regional qualifiers victorious.

The three host nations—the United States, Mexico, and Canada—earned automatic qualification, setting the stage for an unprecedented North American joint-hosting.

This historic collaboration marks the first time the World Cup will be hosted across three countries, promising a diverse and wide-reaching celebration of the global game.

In Asia, Japan became the first team to secure qualification on March 20, 2025, followed closely by Iran on March 25. New Zealand clinched Oceania’s guaranteed spot with a decisive 3–0 victory over New Caledonia on March 24.

South America, as expected, saw heavyweights seal their places. Argentina qualified after a crucial draw between Uruguay and Bolivia on March 25. Later, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Colombia booked their places between June and early September, ensuring strong representation from the continent.

Of the countries on the radar, Australia remains the only nation yet to confirm qualification. The Socceroos are still fighting for a spot in the Asian qualifying rounds.

Current List of qualified nations

USA – Qualified (Host)
Mexico – Qualified (Host)
Canada – Qualified (Host)
Japan – Qualified (March 20, 2025)
New Zealand – Qualified (March 24, 2025)
Iran – Qualified (March 25, 2025)
Jordan qualified from Asia
South Korea qualified from Asia
Uzbekistan Qualified from Asia

Australia – Qualified (June 5, 2025)
Brazil – Qualified (June 10, 2025)
Ecuador – Qualified (June 10, 2025)
Uruguay – Qualified (Early September 2025)
Paraguay – Qualified (Early September 2025)
Colombia – Qualified (Early September 2025)
Argentina qualified in early September
Morocco qualified as the first country from CAF

With qualification ongoing in several confederations, the focus now shifts to Europe, Africa, and the remaining Asian teams. Football fans worldwide eagerly await the final list, promising an exciting 2026 World Cup filled with new rivalries and thrilling showdowns.