Floyd Mayweather may have been absent from the list of top 100 highest-earning athletes in 2017 but he is the highest earner this year (2018). Mayweather has been the highest-paid athlete in 2012, 2014, 2015 and now, 2018. Cristiano Ronaldo held the crown in 2016 and 2017, but has dropped to 3rd this year ($108) with Lionel Messi edging him out ($111 million) to the 2nd spot. Photo credit: Philippine Star Athletes from 11 different sports made it to the list. Basketball (NBA) is the leading sport with 40 hoopsters among the top 100. In 2016, only 16 made it to the Top 100; the number progressed to 32 in 2017. The National Football League (NFL) seconds with 18 athletes. Baseball comes third with 14 athletes; soccer 4th, with 9 athletes; golf 5th, with 5 athletes; and golf and tennis 6th, with 4 athletes each. Racing came 8th with 3 athletes, while cricket, mixed-martial arts and track had an athlete each. The earnings figures provided by Forbes include salaries, bonuses and
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