Roger Federer, tops the highest earning athlete in the forbes list 2020

Roger Federer tops Forbes list of highest-paid sportsmen.  PHOTO| FOX

Forbes list knocks out Barcelona player from the top paid sportsman. Roger Federer, the Tennis champion tops the list.

Roger Federer is the world's highest-paid athlete for 2020 as pandemic blew  Lionel Messi off top spot.

The update annual Forbes list was released on Friday. 

The Swiss tennis great, owner of a men's record 20 Grand Slam singles titles, pocketed $106.3 million in the last 12 months.

His earnings entail $100 million via endorsements, moves him up four places and become the first player from his sport to top the list. 

Soccer players Cristiano Ronaldo ($105 million), Messi ($104 million) and Neymar ($95.5 million) and American basketball player LeBron James ($88.2 million) rounded out the top five.