Sports journalist and TV presenter Roz Kelly expressed her outrage upon the revelation of Sportico’s list of the top 100 highest-paid athletes for 2024, noting that it featured no female competitors. This list, disclosed on Friday, combines annual earnings from salaries and endorsements, with Cristiano Ronaldo leading at a staggering $411 million. American tennis star Coco Gauff, who earned $47 million last year, failed to make the cut, falling over $11 million short of the 100th position.
Kelly voiced her frustration on Nine’s Today, highlighting the stark gender pay gap in sports and pointing out that many female athletes, despite being highly marketable, remain significantly undervalued in endorsement deals. She acknowledged progress in areas like tennis and surfing, which offer equal prize money, but stressed that disparities still exist in sports like cricket and soccer.
The list featured five football players among the top ten earners, while basketball, golf, and American football athletes also dominated the rankings. Notably, Australian basketball player Ben Simmons was the only Aussie within the top 100, ranking 85th with earnings of $65 million.