World's top-10 highest-paid athletes for 2013

No 10: Messi is tenth on the list of Forbes’ highest-paid athletes. (Getty Images)

Forbes announced its annual list of highest-paid athletes in the world for 2013 and here are the top 10:10. Lionel Messi – Footballer

Lionel Messi won the FIFA’s world player of the year for a fourth successive time, after the Argentine had scored 91 goals in all competitions last year to break a 40-year-old world record held by Gerd Muller. Earlier this year, Adidas launched Messi’s icon signature line and it is only the second time that Adidas has done so for any of its brand ambassadors.

Total Earnings: $41.3 millionSalary/winnings: $20.3 millionEndorsements: $21 million

9. Cristiano Ronaldo – Footballer

Cristiano Ronaldo scored 60 goals in 55 games for the Spanish giants’ Real Madrid the last year and he was the runner-up for the world’s best player of the year. The Portuguese winger currently earns nearly $44 million.

Total Earnings: $44 millionSalary/winnings: $23 millionEndorsements: $21 million

8. David Beckham – Footballer

David Beckham put an end to his career in style, as the 38-year-old announced his retirement from football last month, after winning the title with the French giants Paris Saint-Germain. Beckham is now planning to buy an MLS team.

Total Earnings: $47.2 millionSalary/winnings: $5.2 millionEndorsements: $42 million

7. Phil Mickelson – Golfer

Phil Mickelson has 41 PGA victories to his name and he has also won four major titles. Mickelson was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame last year, and he earns $30 million annually from endorsement partners.

Total Earnings: $48.7 millionSalary/winnings: $4.7 millionEndorsements: $44 million

6. Aaron Rodgers - American footballer

Aaron Rodgers has been one of the best NFL player over the past two seasons. Rodgers signed a five-year deal in April that made him the highest-paid player in the NFL on an annual basis.

Total Earnings: $49 millionSalary/winnings: $43 millionEndorsements: $6 million

5. Drew Brees – American footballer

Drew Brees, who is one of the NFL’s most successful athletes. He signed a five-year extension with the New Orleans Saints last year and the deal was worth $100 million, with the inclusion a $37 million signing bonus.

Total Earnings: $51 millionSalary/winnings: $40 millionEndorsements: $11 million

4. LeBron James – Basketballer

LeBron James, more popularly known as the King James, won his first NBA title last year. He also won the third (of his four) MVP Awards and a second Olympic Gold Medal in 2012.

Total Earnings: $59.8 millionSalary/winnings: $17.8 millionEndorsements: $42 million

3. Kobe Bryant – Basketballer

Kobe Bryant has a salary of $27.85 million which is higher than any other player in the NBA. Bryant passed Wilt Chamberlain for fourth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list and he also made it to the All-NBA first team for the eighth straight year this season.

Total earnings: $61.9 millionSalary/winnings: $27.9 millionEndorsements: $34 million

2. Roger Federer – Tennis player

Roger Federer may not be in the best of his form these days but he is still the highest-paid tennis star in the world. Federer, who holds the record for the most number of singles Grand Slam wins, is linked to 10 sponsors that collectively pay him more than $40 million annually.

Total Earnings: $71.5 millionSalary/winnings: $6.5 millionEndorsements: $65 million

1. Tiger Woods – Golfer

Ka’ching: Having won six tournaments in a year, and getting endorsement deals back on track after his divorce, Woods is raking in the moolah. (Getty Images)

Tiger Woods is back on the top of the highest-paid athletes in the world. The golfer, who won 6 tournaments in the past year, is evaluated at a whopping $78.1 million.

Total Earnings: $78.1 millionSalary/winnings: $13.1 millionEndorsements: $65 million