For the first time since Forbes started compiling the yearly list, there are no women among the world’s 100 top-earning sports stars.

American tennis champion, Serena Williams was the only female to appear in the standings last year but dropped out after a spell on the sidelines following her pregnancy and child birth.

Forbes magazine said its rankings of highest-paid athletes have long been ‘testosterone-heavy’ adding that there has always been at least one female athlete and as many as three who qualified since the list was expanded to at least 50 names in 2010.

Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr reclaimed his place at the top of the list with earnings of $285m (£212.8m) after his big-money fight with Conor McGregor last August.

The retired undefeated champion – whose nickname is Money – reached the summit for the fourth time in seven years.

Lionel Messi and fellow footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo who was top for the previous two years, were second and third respectively.

The Barcelona and Argentina star was paid $111m (£82.9m), while the Real Madrid and Portugal forward took home $108m (£80.7m).

UFC fighter, McGregor was fourth in the rankings with $99m (£74m) while Formula One driver, Lewis Hamilton was the United Kingdom’s highest earning athlete in 12th, with $51m (£38.1m).

The figures include all prize money, salaries and bonuses earned between 1 June 2017 and 1 June 2018.

Below are the top 10:

1 – Floyd Mayweather, boxer – $285m (£212.8m)

2 – Lionel Messi, footballer – $111m (£82.9m)

3 – Cristiano Ronaldo, footballer – $108m (£80.7m)

4 – Conor McGregor, mixed martial arts fighter – $99m (£74m)

5 – Neymar Junior, footballer – $90m (£67.3m)

6 – LeBron James, basketball player – $85.5m (£63.9m)

7 – Roger Federer, tennis player – $77.2m (£57.7m)

8 – Stephen Curry, basketball player – $76.9m (£57.5m)

9 – Matt Ryan, American Football player – $67.3m (£50.3m)

10 – Matthew Stafford, American Football player – $59.5m (£44.5m)