10 highest-paid athletes in the world (2021)

#7 Roger Federer | $90 million

Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2021 - Day Four

Probably the greatest tennis player of all time, Roger Federer is the highest-paid tennis star in the world.

A legend of the game, Federer has been around for a long time. The Swiss has won 103 ATP singles titles and 20 Grand Slam titles, and his rivalry with Rafael Nadal and later Novak Djokovic has been covered extensively. A well-rounded player known for his elegance and shot-making, Federer is well-renowned for his calmness and composure.

The 39-year old is currently ranked No.8 by the ATP and has been unlucky with injuries recently. It remains to be seen what the future holds for him.

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#6 Neymar | $95 million

Manchester City v Paris Saint-Germain - UEFA Champions League Semi Final: Leg Two

Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar needs little introduction as the forward is regarded as one of the best football players in the world.

A creative, pacy forward with excellent dribbling ability, Neymar began his European adventure with Barcelona, forming a fearsome attack with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. The three played an important role as Barcelona won the treble under the management of Luis Enrique.

OFFICIAL: Neymar signs a contract extension with PSG until 2025. He’s staying in Paris 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/3X3OLlxhoF

— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 8, 2021

The 29-year old decided to join Paris Saint-Germain for a world-record fee of €222 million in 2017, and Neymar has been a key cog for the Parisiens since his arrival. In 114 appearances in all competitions the Brazil international has scored 86 goals. Neymar recently signed a contract extension with the Ligue 1 side.

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#5 LeBron James | $96.5 million

Los Angeles Lakers v Utah Jazz

LeBron James has often been compared to Michael Jordan, with the two basketball greats regarded as the greatest to have played the game.

Still going strong at 36, James began his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, joining Miami Heat in a controversial move in 2010. With the Heat, James won two NBA championships, returning to Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014 and leading them to a championship win in 2016.

It's all in the details. @KingJames brought out a special Air Max 1 as the Lakers raised their championship banner 👑 pic.twitter.com/Tc0Vli9id8

— B/R Kicks (@brkicks) May 13, 2021

James currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers and won another NBA championship in 2020. The American has won four NBA MVP awards, four Finals MVP awards and two Olympic gold medals as well.

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#4 Dak Prescott | $105.5 million

Washington Redskins v Dallas Cowboys

A quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, Dak Prescott recently signed a contract extension with the team which includes a $66 million signing bonus, the highest in the game's history.

Prescott was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2016 NFL draft and won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year that very year. The 27-year old is a crucial member of the Dallas Cowboys outfit and holds several individual records.

The highest-paid American football player in this list, Prescott is currently recovering from a serious ankle injury that ended his 2020 season.

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