When it comes to popularity, no sport can compare to soccer. That huge fan base is one of the reasons this sport generates some of the world's most highly compensated athletes.

Cristiano Ronaldo topped the list in 2016, making nearly $90 million. Roughly one third of that came from endorsements.

Ronaldo might have topped the list, but Messi wasn’t far behind at $81 million, including more than $53 million in salary.

Fresh off of the unforgettable come-from-behind Cleveland Cavaliers victory in the NBA Finals, LeBron James raked in huge money. It was enough to place him third on the Forbes list of richest athletes.

There were three NBA players in the top 10. Kevin Durant, now of the Golden State Warriors, was the second-richest NBA player and still far behind LeBron James.

Serena Williams achieved her first No. 1 ranking in women's tennis in 2002. More than 13 years later, she's still the sport's biggest (and wealthiest) star.

William's made almost $9 million just in winnings. She topped that by making around $20 million in endorsements.

That's right, of the almost $70 million he earned, less than $10 million was prize winnings. Federer reaped all of the other cash from business deals.

Woods hasn't won a major title since 2008, but his legend and list of accomplishments are still staggering. He last topped the list in 2013.

Newton's Carolina Panthers lost in the Super Bowl, but Cam's bank account was nothing but a win. He made more than $60 million.

Agnieszka Radwanska is quietly intense on and off the court. With 20 victories and counting, she's also rich, with more than $10 million in the 2015-16 year alone.

Nike isn't one of Rousey's business partners. She's famous for touting many companies, from Bud Light, to Buffalo Jeans to MetroPCS.

James makes a paltry $23 million through his salary with the Cleveland Cavaliers. His endorsements are worth twice as much.

Jordan is a sports financial entity unlike any other. He's earned roughly $1.7 billion during his many years in the spotlight.

Even as his statistics sunk during the final years of his career, Bryant was still the top-paid player in the NBA in his final six seasons. He reaped $770 million during his time in Los Angeles.

Jordan hasn't played in the NBA since 2003, but that doesn't stop him from hauling in ungodly sums of money. Each year Nike pays him $100 million in endorsements.

Mickelson made less than $3 million, meaning that the bulk of his $53 million came from his endorsements, of which there are many.

Sharapova failed a drug test during the Australian Open. Her business partners were none too pleased, and some (like American Express) opted to end their endorsement deals with her.

Tiger Woods revolutionized golf and reaped the financial benefits. He's made more than $1.6 billion and still cashes many millions of dollars in endorsements each year.

Beckham made more money in retirement than he did during his playing days. His many lucrative endorsements generated revenue in excess of $75 million.

If you're a woman, tennis is where it's at -- nine of the top 10 women play tennis. Racecar driver Danica Patrick is the only exception.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. won big in 2015, to the tune of $285 million. He made only $15 million in endorsements, perhaps due to his criminal background.

Everything that Nicklaus (the "Golden Bear") touched turned to gold. He's made more than $1.1 billion in his lifetime and is still earning heaps of dough each year.

Palmer retired from the senior PGA tour in 2006. He used decades of winning gold as a springboard towards earning about $40 million per year.

Wozniacki had a very average year in her sport but maintained most of her business deals. Adidas footed the largest portion of the bill for her $7 million endorsements.

If you can break into elite sports, you'll have it made. Combined, the top-100 richest athletes made more than $3 billion in a single calendar year.

Patrick is one of the few athletes who made more in her actual sport than she did from business deals. Her salary was about $8 million; her endorsements were around $6 million.

Bryant may have been on his farewell tour but he still made piles of money. His final year's salary was $25 million, the same amount as his endorsement deals.

Sharapova didn't make much in prize money -- only about $2 million or 10 percent of her $20 million in earnings.

Tiger who? Phil Mickelson's megawatt smile and on-the-course geniality makes him one of golf's biggest stars even in the twilight of his career.