Forbes ranks MS Dhoni as world's 5th most valuable sports athlete

MS Dhoni is the 5th most valuable sports athlete in the world

Current Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni has been placed fifth in Forbes’ list, which sees NBA star LeBron James at No.1 and includes golfer Tiger Woods and tennis players Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal among others, of the world’s most valuable sports athlete brands. Dhoni also holds the distinction of being the only Indian sportsperson to feature in this star-studded list.

Forbes say that Dhoni’s bat sponsorship deals with Spartan Sports and Amity University, which he signed towards the end of 2013, are worth a combined $4 million annually, a rise from the $1 million that Reebok was paying previously. The 33-year old wicket-keeper batsman has a brand value of $20 million in 2014.

James, with a brand value of $37 million in 2014, is on the top of the list at the moment, having raked in a colossal $53 million from endorsements with Nike, McDonald’s, Coco-Cola and Upper Deck during the past year alone. As a result, this is the first time since 2007 that somebody has displaced Tiger Woods as the top athlete brand.

Woods has slipped to No.2 position and has a brand value of $36 million in the current year. His earnings took a dip after Electronic Arts announced, in 2013, that it would be ending its 14-year long Tiger Woods PGA Tour video game.

Following Woods in the list is Federer, who has a 2014 brand value of $32 million. Some of the other high profile names in the top 10 list are Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt (6), Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo (7), Argentina & Barcelona forward Lionel Messi (9) and Spain’s leading tennis player Nadal (10).

With a worth of $19 billion, meanwhile, Nike heads the most valuable sports business brand list.