Below is the current list of the top ten highest paid sportsmen in the world.  These are men who earn more in a day than most mere mortals earn in a year!  And before you think about getting on your politically-correct high horse and wonder why it’s not called ‘highest paid sportspeople’ it’s because the top ten highest paid athletes are all men – hence ‘sportsmen’.  This list changes each year and there are some obvious ones in there, but some that just may surprise you!

Athlete #10

26 year old Argentine footballer (soccer player if you’re American) Lionel Messi plays for Spanish club Barcelona on a contract that will pay him more than $20 million each year until at least 2018.  But that’s not his only source of income – he will make even more each year from endorsements!

Total Earnings: $41.3 million
Salary/winnings: $20.3 million
Endorsements (e.g. sponsorships): $21 million