The Forbes annual list of the world’s 100 highest paid sports stars has been released and for once the boxers have been bumped from top spot for the soccer stars.

Unsurprisingly, the chiselled jawed Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured above) comes in at number one position taking home a tidy annual pay packet of $US88 million ($A117 million) a year. The Real Madrid star’s earnings was made up from his $US56 million ($A74 million) a year he takes home in salary for kicking a ball about and the other $US32 million ($A42.7 million) was from sponsorships and endorsements.

This year’s top 10 were (all figures in US dollars):

1. Cristiano Ronaldo — $88 million

2. Lionel Messi — $81.4 million

3. LeBron James — $77.2 million

4. Roger Federer — $67.8 million

5. Kevin Durant — $56.2 million

6. Novak Djokovic — $55.8 million

7. Cam Newton — $53.1 million

8. Phil Mickelson — $52.9 million

9. Jordan Spieth — $52.8 million

10. Kobe Bryant — $50 million

There were only two women in this year’s top 100. Tennis star Serena Williams came in at 40th spot with an annual salary of $US28.9 million; while Maria Sharapova can find a little solace in her two-year ban for doping this morning taking 88th spot with an annual take-home pay of $US21.9 million.

Only one Aussie made the top 100, the world’s number one ranked golfer Jason Day takes home a nice $US23.6 million annually. Just over $US15 million was from winning tournaments while the rest was made up in endorsements.

As you’d expect, there was a similar theme with rich stars and the sports they played. It appears American football’s the game with the biggest salaries with 19 gridiron players in this year’s top 100. American baseball came second with 18 entrants and was closely followed by American basketball with 17. There were 12 soccer players, seven tennis stars and five golfers. As you’d expect, there were 68 Americans on the list.

Want to learn more about sports marketing? Give this little link a click and find out more about our spectacular Ministry of Sports Marketing conference coming up on July 19.