Courtesy: X

Courtesy: X

Former India captain Virat Kohli has been ranked ninth highest paid athlete in the top 10 list across the globe from September 1, 2023 to September 1, 2024. This list includes players from cricket, football, basketball, golf, and other sporting disciplines. Notably, Virat Kohli earned a total of 847 crores INR as per a release from Statista. The highest paid athlete across the globe is Portuguese footballing icon Cristiano Ronaldo as he earned 2081 crores INR in the last 12 months. 

Cristiano Ronaldo is currently playing for Portugal in the ongoing UEFA Nations League. Outside of international football, he is leading Al-Nassr, a Saudi Pro League side. Second place is occupied by Jon Rahm Rodrigues, a golfer from Spain as he earned 1712 crores INR during this period. Notably, he held the world record of being the number one player for 60 weeks in the World Golf Rankings. On the third spot, FIFA World Cup 2022 winning captain, Lionel Messi, who earned 1074 crore INR.

Virat Kohli is the only cricketer to feature in the coveted list of highest paid athletes

Virat Kohli, the right-handed batter from India, is the only cricketer to feature in the coveted list of highest paid athletes. Over the years, he has been one of the world's most famous athletes when compared with stars from football, basketball, and several other sporting disciplines. Coming back to the list of highest paid athletes, 39-year-old LeBron James is in fourth place, earning 990 crores INR.

The next in the list is France's football player Kylian Mbappe, the FIFA World Cup 2018 winner, who earned 881 crores INR. 

Remaining players in the list of top-10 highest paid athletes from September 1, 2023 to September 1, 2024 are as under:

Athlete

Earnings from Sept 1, 2023 to Sept 1, 2024

Giannis Antetokounmpo

873 crore INR

Neymar

864 crore INR

Karim Benzema

864 crore INR

Virat Kohli

847 crore INR

Stephen Curry

831 crore INR