Forbes releases highest paid athletes list

Boxer Floyd Mayweather has again topped the Forbes highest paid athlete list for. The 'Money Man' is the first athlete besides Tiger Woods to earn $100 million in Forbes' annual ranking of the highest-paid athletes.

European football, mainly from the English Premier League boasted a raft of players in the top 100 with England soccer captain Wayne Rooney the highest-paid EPL player, in wages and endorsements combined.

The Manchester United striker earned a total of $US23.4 million ($A25.3 million) last year, including $US18.4 million ($A19.9 million) in wages and $US5 million ($A5.4 million) in endorsements, placing him 43rd on the overall list.

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo is second in the list with $US80 million ($A86.6 million), consisting of $US52 million ($A56.25 million) in wages and $US28 million ($A30.3 million) in endorsements.

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero is the only other Premier League player to make the top 50, in 44th, with $US23.3 million ($A25.2 million).

Technically, Manchester United striker Radamel Falcao tops the EPL players in terms of earnings with $US35.4 million ($A38.3 million), coming in at 15th on the list, however the Colombian is only on loan for the season from French side Monaco.

Manchester City's Yaya Toure (59th), Manchester United's Robin van Persie (81st), Liverpool's Steven Gerrard (86th) and Arsenal's Mesut Ozil (89th) are the only other EPL players to make the top 100.

Football isn't the only sport where the money is rolling in; golf, tennis and basketball provide two players each in the top ten.

Let's break down the top 10 list.

10. Matt Ryan: NFL - Atlanta Falcons ($A47.4 million)

9. Rafael Nadal: Tennis - $A48.1 (million)

8. Phil Mickelson: Golf - ($A57.5 million)

7. Roger Federer: Tennis - ($A60.8 million)

6. Tiger Woods: Golf - ($A66.2 million)

5. Kobe Bryant: Basketball - LA Lakers (A$66.5 million)

He may be 36 years old and on a declining Lakers team, but the cheques keep piling up for the LA veteran. His salary and endorsements are split down the middle, testament to the evergreen appeal of the one of the greatest to ever play the game. The bright lights of Los Angeles' huge media market don't hurt when it comes to television deals and sponsorships for Bryant and the Lakers

Getty Images: These men are raking in the cash for their respective talents

4. Lionel Messi: Soccer - FC Barcelona ($A70 million)

After winning the Golden Ball for best player at the 2014 World Cup where he guided Argentina all the way to the final, Lionel Messi has having a great year both on the pitch and off it. Along with a hefty cheque from Barcelona, sponsors like Adidas and Turkish Airlines contribute to a whopping $A25 million in endorsement deals.

3. LeBron James: Basketball - Cleveland Cavaliers ($A78.2 million)

LeBron James' switch to re-join the Cleveland Cavaliers is not only going to earn him a lot of money, but the city of Cleveland itself set to cash in on the King's return. Bloomberg estimates his financial impact will amount to up to $A232 million annually for the city from tourism, taxes, service industry spending and the team’s business.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo: Soccer - Real Madrid ($A86.5 million)

Ronaldo's huge off-field presence sees $A30 million of his earnings coming off the pitch with every big company clamouring for his face to front their products.

1. Floyd Mayweather: Boxing ($A113 million)

They don't call him 'Money Mayweather' for no reason, with 100% of his earnings coming from prizemoney alone, earning $A34.6 million for his last bout.