New York: Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the lone Indian sportsman to figure on Forbes’ list of world’s 100 highest paid athletes. The list is topped by American boxer Floyd Mayweather and includes golfer Tiger Woods and tennis stars Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Dhoni is ranked 22nd on the list with total earnings of $30 m and endorsements worth $26 m. His salary and winnings total $4 m as of June 2014, Forbes said.Â
“Dhoni cemented his legacy as one of India’s best captains of all time when he led the Indian national team to victory in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy and became the first national captain to ever win all three ICC trophies,” the publication said.Â
Dhoni signed bat sponsorship deals with leading brands like Spartan Sports and Amity University in late 2013 reportedly worth a combined $4 m annually, up from the $1 m Reebok was paying previously, it added. The earning figures include salaries, bonuses, prize money, appearance fees, as well as licensing and endorsement income paid out during the last 12 months between June 2013 and June 2014.Â
Mayweather is the first athlete, besides Woods, to crack the $100 m earnings threshold. Real Madrid and star Portugal footballer Cristiano Ronaldo leads a group of 15 soccer players in the top 100. Ronaldo ranks second overall with total earnings of $80 m.Â
The list also includes tennis player Novak Djokovic on the 17th rank with earnings of $33.1 m, tennis star Maria Sharapova (34), Jamaican runner Usain Bolt (45), tennis player Serena Williams (55) and German Formula One racing driver Sebastian Vettel (83).Â
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(With PTI inputs)