19. Lionel Messi - $400m

Chances are you've heard of Lionel Messi even if you don't watch soccer. The little Argentinian, who has spent his entire career at Barcelona, is widely believed to be the best player of all time, his reputation eclipsing even Diego Maradona and Pele. When Messi runs at defenders they can fall over their own feet trying to keep up with his tricks, while the ball seems to stay glued to his.

The world of soccer is awash with money at the top level, and Messi is believed to have a contract with pays him $670,000 per week. On top of that, there's the prize money which comes with his many Spanish Championships, European Championships and World Player of the Year awards, and his sponsorship deals with global brands like Pepsi. Messi is still playing, so his incredible wealth is only going to keep on growing.

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