Ronaldo beats Messi in the list of highest-paid athletes, Michael Jordan is number one

The likes of David Beckham, Mike Tyson, Lewis Hamilton and Conor McGregor have missed out on the top ten highest-paid athletes of all time.

Sports business page Sportico compiled a list of the highest earners with inflated-adjusted numbers.

Basketball icon Michael Jordan topped the list with £1.9BILLION made with inflated sums reaching an astonishing £2.7bn.

Golfer Tiger Woods, who enjoyed similar success off the field, earned £1.4bn with inflated figures of £2bn.

American golfer Arnold Palmer makes it inside the top three with a net worth of £735m thanks to winnings and business ventures that continued making his estate money after his death in 2016. It would be equivalent to £1.4bn today.

Palmer's old rival Jack Nicklaus was close behind with £722m pocketed which is equal to £1.354bn right now.

Cristiano Ronaldo comes in at fifth as the first footballer with inflated earnings of £1.312bn.

Current NBA star Lebron James comes in at sixth with £1.271bn worth of earnings.

Lionel Messi is two places behind on-field rival Ronaldo with £1.229bn made throughout his illustrious career.

Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather is the first fighter on the list, having earned £922m before officially retiring in 2017, now worth £1.171bn.

Tennis' Roger Federer comes in at ninth with £1.146bn made.

And last but not least on the list is Phil Mickelson, who earned £855m, which totals £1.13bn now.

Michael Schumacher, Beckham, Kobe Bryant, Neymar and Lewis Hamilton are notable names left off the top ten.