Top 10 Highest Paid Athletes 2011 in the World

Top 10 Highest Paid Athletes 2011! Which athletes has the highest earnings? Well, Numeroten here to bring you Top 10 Highest Paid Athletes 2011! With all the different sports out there, and billions of people watching them, Athletes are bound to be paid large salaries and acquire huge endorsement deals. Now here are the athletes that get paid the most! Top 10 Highest Paid Athletes 2011!

10. Lionel Messi – $32.3 Million – Soccer – Age 23

Lionel Messi ShareAlike-Attribution License By prettyfriendship
Probably the best current soccer player, Lionel Messi once again dominated last year. In 55 appearance Messi scored 53 goals and had 24 assists, he was the UEFA top goal scorer. Messi earns $16 million a year from his contract with Barcelona, and he earn the other $16 million in endorsement deals.

9. Michael Schumacher – $34 Million – Formula 1 Racing – Age 42

Michael Schumacher ShareAlike-Attribution License By ph-stop
The 7 time Formula 1 Champion, returned to the Formula 1 scene with Mercedes. Even though, the return did not go as planned as he finished 9th overall. However, with 7 titles, 91 wins, and 68 pole positions few could argue that he is not the best Formula 1 driver ever. Schumacher ears most of his money with endorsements like DVAG and Jet Set.

8. Alex Rodriguez – $35 Million – Baseball – Age 35

Alex Rodriguez ShareAlike-Attribution License By Keith Allison
In 2000, Alex Rodriguez signed a record breaking contract $252 Million, making him the top earning baseball player of all time. Since then, he has admitted to using steroids, won a few more MVP’s, won a World Series, and has put up some great numbers. Still, after admitting to steroids there hasn’t been much endorsement deals coming his way, but why would you complain when you earn $35 million a year?

7. Cristiano Ronaldo – $38 Million – Soccer – Age 26

Cristiano Ronaldo Attribution License By Ludo29
The captain of the Portuguese National Team and the star of Real Madrid, Ronaldo is the 2nd highest earning soccer player in the world. Last year, Ronaldo had 53 goals in 54 appearances for Real Madrid, and was the La Liga Top Scorer. Ronaldo has capitalized on his earnings by having over 26 million Facebook Fans, and 3 million Twitter Followers.

6. David Beckham – $40 Million – Soccer – Age 36

David Beckham Attribution License By Anonymous
The highest paid soccer player, at age 36 David Beckham looks like he is nearing the end of his prestigious soccer career, but that does not mean it is the end of David Beckham. Besides being married to Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice). Beckham has a plethora of endorsement deals, and since the Olympic Games are coming to London in 2010 Beckham will surely require tons more deals.

5. Phil Mickelson – $46.5 Million – Golf – Age 40

Phil Mickelson Attribution License By Jim Epler
With 4 Majors Phil Mickelson is one of the key stars in Golf. He is the second highest earner in golf, and continues to build his endorsement portfolio. With endorsement deals with ExxonMobil, Rolex, Barclays, Callaway Golf, and most recently Enbrel Mickelson continues to earn far more from endorsement deals than he does from playing Golf.

4. Roger Federer – $47 Million – Tennis – Age 29

Roger Federer Attribution License By toga
With 67 Single Titles, 16 Grand Slams, and even an Olympic Gold in Doubles, Federer is arguably the best male player to play tennis. Federer holds the record for being considered the number one tennis play by ATP for 237 consecutive week and 285 weeks overall. He has appeared in 23 Grand Slams Finals (10 were consecutive) and appeared in 18 out of 19 Grand Slam Finals from 2005 to 2010. Federer endorsements include Rolex, Gillette, Mercedes-Benz, Nike, and Lindt.

3. LeBron James – $48 Million – Basketball – Age 26

LeBron James ShareAlike-Attribution License By Keith Allison
Even with the controversial telecast of “The Decision”, where he announced he would be moving to the Miami Heat, LeBron James still has a lot of fans(A lot more haters now to). James is currently one of the best active players with tons of endorsements. Even though, James, Wade, and Bosh failed to win the NBA 2011 Championship, many people still believe the Heat will win at least one championship. LeBron James endorsements include Nike, Sprite, Bubblicious, Upper Deck, State Farm, and McDonald’s

2. Kobe Bryant – $53 Million – Basketball – Age 32

Kobe Bryant ShareAlike-Attribution License By Keith Allison
Kobe Bryant is a 5 time NBA Champion, 13 time All-Star, 2008 MVP, and a whole list of other awards, Kobe Bryant is an All Time Great. Unless he is linked to steroids, Bryant is undeniably going to be one of the easiest players to put in the NBA Hall of Fame. Being the star of the Lakers Kobe Bryant has been playing for them since 1996, and is probably nearing the end of his career. Yet, hid endorsement with huge companies like Nike and The Coca-Cola Company has brought in tens of million of dollars.

1. Tiger Woods – $75 Million – Golf – Age 35

Tiger Woods ShareAlike-Attribution License By Keith Allison
Before the downfall in 2009, where Tiger Woods marriage, golfing career, and life fell apart, Tiger Woods barely had a crash on his resume. Ever since, Woods hasn’t signed any major endorsement deals, and his earning have dropped $50 million in 2 years. However, even though all that, Tiger Woods is still the highest earning athlete in the world. Even though major endorsers like Gillete and AT&T, his endorsements from Nike and Electronic Arts make up about half his revenue alone.