Forbes recently released a new top 10 list for the most valuable athlete brands, and not surprisingly, the two biggest names in the world of football – Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi – make a cameo.
The Liga superstars, though, are the only footballers to make the list, and both failed to make it into the top five. Instead, the Portuguese ace came in at 6th and Messi two spots behind at 8th. Only $4m separated the two, as Ronaldo’s value was estimated at $19m and Leo’s at $15m.
Both, though, finished miles behind the number one athlete, with that title going to tennis legend Roger Federar. The Swiss star’s value is estimated at $36m, $17m more than the more valuable of the two footballers.
One reason for the Ballon d’Or kings finishing outside the top five is due to the way in which an athlete’s brand value is calculated. Earnings through endorsements were the key focus, as salary and bonuses were omitted.
This means neither money earned through Cristiano’s Champions League win nor his Euro 2016 success was taken into consideration. The same goes for La Pulga’s league and couple double from last season.
Both Messi and Cristiano were nominated for the upcoming Ballon d’Or prize, with most pundits tipping the latter to scoop up the coveted prize.
Top 10 most valuable athlete brands
- Roger Federer (tennis) – $36m
- Lebron James (basketball): $34m
- Phil Mickelson (golf): $28m
- Usain Bolt (athletics): $25m
- Tiger Woods (golf): $23m
- Cristiano Ronaldo (football): $19m
- Kevin Durant (basketball): $16m
- Lionel Messi (football): $15m
- Rory McIlroy (golf): $13m
- Mahendra Singh Dhoni (cricket): $11m