Show them the money, and lots and lots of it

It’s been a good year to be a professional athlete, and even better if your name is Lionel Messi.

Footballers and basketball players dominated the highest earners of 2019, but it was the Barcelona star who ultimately topped the list.

Messi’s yearly earnings in 2019 was a whopping USD$127m (NZ$192m).

You have to look a fair way down the list to find the highest earning Kiwi, Thunder star Steven Adams taking home about US$22.4m (NZ$34m) this year.

Not bad, but it’s a drop in ocean compared to some of the crazy numbers these athletes are brining in. Here are the top ten highest earners of 2019:

1. Lionel Messi, US$127m

The Argentinian forward’s US$92m contract, coupled with more than US$35 in endorsements made him this year’s highest earner.

Between his 13 year playing career and a lifelong deal with

Adidas, his net worth is estimated to be around US$400m.

Messi’s greatest rival is not only one of the best footballers in the world, but a marketing magnet wherever he goes. And Juventus have been the latest side to benefit from having Ronaldo in the building.

Following his signing, the club reportedly sold more than 500,000 of his jerseys in the first 24 hours.

In 2019 Ronaldo has earned US$65m on the field and US$44 off it. His net worth is today estimated to be in excess of US$450m.

3. Neymar Junior, US$105m

Still just 27-years-old, Neymar has long been one of soccer’s brightest stars and his pay packet supports the hype.

This year the Paris Saint-Germain forward made just over US$104m, adding to his estimated net worth US$185m.

4. Canelo Alvarez, US$94m

Step aside Floyd Mayweather, boxing has a new money man.

Mexico’s Canelo Alvarez’s new multi fight deal with streaming service DAZN catapulted him into the 2019 rich list.

This year Alvarez earned more than US$94m. He only fought twice.

5. Roger Federer, US$93

Last year’s highest paid athlete fell a few spots in 2019, but is still doing alright for a 38-year-old.

His yearly salary was dominated by his work off the court. Federer pocketed US$93m this season, US$86m of that coming via endorsements.

■ Russell Wilson (NFL) US$89.5m

■ Aaron Rodgers (NFL) US$89.3m

■ LeBron James (NBA) US89m

■ Steph Curry (NBA) US$79.8m

■ Kevin Duran (NBA) US$65.4m