After a disappointing year<\/strong>\u00a0and a half with Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo jumped to Saudi Arabia\u2019s Al Nassr on a huge new contract in January, nearly doubling his annual playing salary to an estimated $75 million. Star golfers Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson made their move last year, leaving the PGA Tour for the Saudi-backed LIV Golf and tens of millions of dollars in upfront guarantees. Lionel Messi is reportedly considering a transfer to Saudi Arabia this summer and already works with the country as a tourism ambassador\u2014a multimillion-dollar arrangement that led to a\u00a0two-week suspension<\/a> from his current club, Paris Saint-Germain, on Tuesday after he missed practice because of an unsanctioned promotional trip. PSG, of course, is also the home of Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 and has its own Gulf connection, with its own group a subsidiary of Qatar\u2019s sovereign wealth fund.<\/p>\n Skyrocketing league media rights agreements and growing off-field opportunities have already sent athletes\u2019 pay soaring in recent years, but Middle Eastern money is pouring oil on the fire. In all, the world\u2019s ten highest-paid athletes collected an estimated $1.11 billion before taxes and agents\u2019 fees over the last 12 months, up 12% from last year\u2019s $990 million and 5% from the record of $1.06 billion set in 2018.<\/p>\n
\nTen Years Of The Top Ten<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The world\u2019s ten highest-paid athletes collectively made $1.11 billion before taxes and agents\u2019 fees over the last 12 months, the highest total ever.<\/h4>\n