Here are the top 10 of the Sports Illustrated Magazine's International 20 list for the year 2012, ranking the highest paid athletes from around the world. As with all International 20 lists, it only includes athletes from outside of the USA, sorted by total earnings (salary, winnings, endorsements and appearance fees).
Tennis player Roger Federer is again on top of the list, for the fourth straight year. Female tennis player Maria Sharopova slipped into the top 10, the first time a female has achieved this on the International 20 since she was ranked 8th in 2007. See also the top 10 American athletes on the 2012 Fortunate 50 list.
Name | Country | Sport | earnings (US$ mill) | previous year | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Roger Federer | Switzerland | Tennis | $51.4 | 1 |
2 | David Beckham | UK | Soccer | $46.0 | 11 |
3. | Lionel Messi | Argentina | Soccer | $41.25 | 4 |
4. | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | Soccer | $40.25 | 5 |
5. | Fernando Alonso | Spain | Auto Racing | $40.0 | 3 |
6. | Manny Pacquiao | Philippines | Boxing | $39.0 | 2 |
7. | Samuel Eto'o | Cameroon | Soccer | $30.7 | Not Ranked |
8. | Rafael Nadal | Spain | Tennis | $29.0 | 7 |
9. | Valentino Rossi | Italy | Auto Racing | $28.0 | 8 |
10. | Maria Sharopova | Russia | Tennis | $26.5 | Not Ranked |
Source
- List as published on sportsillustrated.cnn.com (si.com)
Related Pages
- About the International 20, and other Sports Illustrated Lists
- Other sporting lists, including the Forbes list of the World's Best Paid Athletes
- More about the World of Sport