The Highest Paid Athletes From Latin America and the Caribbean

Lionel Messi of Barcelona. (Photo by Amilcar Orfali/LatinContent/Getty Images)

By NAN Sports Editor

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. June 10, 2016: The Forbes’ list of the world’s richest athletes is in and several from the Americas – Latin American and Caribbean – have made the list. Here are the top five richest from this region:

1: Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi. (Photo by Brian Bahr/LatinContent/Getty Images)

Lionel Messi, the Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish club Barcelona and for the Argentina national team, is reportedly the Americas’ richest player and the second richest in the world. Messi came in second globally and first in the Americas with total earnings per annum of US$81.4 million. Of that number, he earned $53.4 M in salary and another $28 M in endorsements.

2: Neymar

Neymar of Barcelona in action. (Photo by Chris Brunskill Ltd/Getty Images)

Brazilian professional footballer Neymar, who plays for Spanish club FC Barcelona and the Brazil national team as a forward or winger is the second richest player in the Americas but #21 globally. Neymar’s earnings per year are put at US$37.5 M with $14.5 M earned as a salary and $23 M in endorsements.

3: Usain Bolt

Six-time Olympic champion, Jamaican-born Usain St. Leo Bolt.

In the third spot across Latin America and the Caribbean is Jamaican-born six-time Olympian Usain Bolt. Even though he is ranked #32 globally, Bolt is third in the Americas with total annual earnings put at $32.5 M, of which $2.5 M is earned as a salary and $30 M in endorsements.

4: Robinson Cano

Robinson Cano #22 of the Seattle Mariners. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

Ranking at fourth in the region but #45 globally is Robinson Cano.  The Dominican-American second baseman for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball’s annual salary is put at $27 M with $24 M in salary and $3 M in endorsements.

5: Miguel Cabrera

iguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)

José Miguel Cabrera Torres, commonly known as Miguel Cabrera and nicknamed “Miggy” rounds out the top five even though he is ranked #47  globally. The Venezuelan professional baseball first baseman who plays for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball earns $26.6 M per year. Of that, $24.1 M is his salary while $2.5 M is earned in endorsements making him the fifth ranked highest earning athlete for the Americas.