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This article was first published 10 years ago

Who is financially the most valuable athlete?

Last updated on: July 25, 2014 14:16 IST

Image: Maria Sharapova
Photographs: Courtesy: Maria Sharapova/Facebook

Tennis sensation Maria Sharapova always grabs attention.

The Russian beauty is the fourth most financially valuable athlete on earth, according to Forbes Magazine.

The influential business magazine states that the 6-foot-2-inch blonde has multimillion dollar endorsement deals.

The top 10 most valuable athletes according to Forbes are:

1. Roger Federer (Tennis) and Tiger Woods (Golf): $46 million each

2. LeBron James (Basketball): $27 million

3. Phil Mickelson (Golf):  $25 million

4. Maria Sharapova (Tennis): $23 million

5. Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Cricket): $21 million

6. Usain Bolt (Track and Field): $20 million

7. Kobe Bryant (Basketball): $19 million

8. Li Na (Tennis): $15 million

9. Cristiano Ronaldo (Football): $13 million

10. Lionel Messi (Football): $13 million

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Who is financially the most valuable athlete?

Image: Mahendra Singh Dhoni lifts the trophy at the Taj hotel the day after India defeated Sri Lanka in the ICC Cricket World Cup final in Mumbai on April 3, 2011
Photographs: Philip Brown/Reuters

India cricket skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the fifth most financially valuable athlete.

Dhoni is the lone Indian sportsman to figure in Forbes' list of the world's 100 highest paid athletes.

He is ranked 22nd, with total earnings of $30 million and endorsements worth $26 million.

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Who is financially the most valuable athlete?

Image: Tiger Woods of the US Team reacts
Photographs: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Roger Federer, Tiger Woods, LeBron James, Phil Mickelson and Maria Sharapova succeed Dhoni, who is valued at 21 million dollars, in Forbes' list.

Swiss tennis ace Federer and American golf ace Woods are tied at first place, valued at 46 million dollars each, followed by basketball ace LeBron James, who is valued at 27 million dollars, in the second place, Sport24 reported.

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Who is financially the most valuable athlete?

Image: Roger Federer of Switzerland
Photographs: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images

Federer and Woods earned 46 million dollars each to their names in 2013 while Dhoni got 21 million dollars.

Federer holds a record 17 Grand Slam tennis titles, while Woods has won 14 major golf titles, second only to Jack Nicklaus's record 18.

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Who is financially the most valuable athlete?

Image: Maria Sharapova
Photographs: Courtesy: Maria Sharapova/Facebook

Tennis sensation Sharapova stands tall. Not just in stature but also in the Forbes’ list.

The magazine said that the Russian beauty’s earnings power skyrocketed in 2004 when she won Wimbledon.

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Who is financially the most valuable athlete?

Image: LeBron James
Photographs: Mike Segar/Reuters

American basketball player LeBron James ranked third in Forbes' list of the 100 highest paid athletes with earnings of $72.3 million.

In the financially valuable list, though, James is at No 2.

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Who is financially the most valuable athlete?

Image: Cristiano Ronaldo
Photographs: Lars Baron/Getty Images

Real Madrid and star Portugal footballer Cristiano Ronaldo leads soccer players in the top 100.

He ranks second overall, with total earnings of $80 million.

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Who is financially the most valuable athlete?

Image: Li Na of China
Photographs: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Li Na managed to bag Serena Williams’s second spot in the Forbes’ list of highest-paid female athletes.

The Australian Open crown earlier their year cemented her position.

She also finds a place in the financially valuable athlete’s list at No 8.

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Who is financially the most valuable athlete?

Image: Lionel Messi
Photographs: Getty Images

Lionel Messi must now set his sights on Russia in 2018 as he seeks to cap an already stellar career by leading Argentina to World Cup glory.

FIFA awarded the 27-year-old football ace the 'Golden Ball' as the top player of the World Cup, but the Barcelona forward said it is a "sad prize", adding that the only thing he wants to lift is the trophy for Argentina.

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