Forbes has released its annual list of the 100 highest paid sportspeople in the world, and for the first time since 2010, it doesn't include any women.
Serena Williams was the only woman to appear on the list last year, in 51st place with reported earnings of $27-million (~R343-million). However, the tennis star was missing from 2018′s roundup after taking time out for motherhood. Her daughter, Alexis Olympia, was born last September.
Charities promoting gender equality in sport have said the list reflects how women are "undervalued" in the industry, while Kate Dale from Sport England's "This Girl Can" campaign has raised concerns about what message the list sends to women and girls.
Forbes' list is based on known earnings such as prize money, salaries and bonuses earned between June 1 2017 and June 1 2018, plus endorsement estimates including sponsorship deals and appearance fees, based on "conversations with dozens of industry insiders".
U.S. boxer Floyd Mayweather came top of the list having reportedly earned $275-million (~R3.5-billion) for his boxing match against UFC star Conor McGregor last August alone. Footballer Lionel Messi took second place with earnings of $111-million (~R1.4-billion), while Cristiano Ronaldo dropped from first place to third, with earnings of $108-million (~R.375-billion).
The annual roundup of highest-paid sportspeople has included at least one woman, and as many as three, since it was extended from 50 athletes to 100 in 2010, according to Forbes. Maria Sharapova appeared alongside Williams in multiple previous lists, but lost her position (and right to compete) when she failed a drugs test at the 2016 Australian Open.
Speaking to HuffPost, Kate Dale, leader of Sport England's "This Girl Can" campaign, said "it matters" that there are no women on the list, as "sport has the power to change more than the sporting world itself".
"Many of our most celebrated, rewarded people are athletes," she said. "It represents what we value. What does it say to girls — and boys — if they're all men?"
Research from "This Girl Can" has shown "fear of judgment" is holding many women back from getting active, and Dale said having visible female role models has the potential to change this.
"The average man is already far more likely to play sport than women, so this [list] sends out a terrible message to women that they're not as valuable or welcome as men. You can't be what you can't see, and the lack of women in this list only perpetuates the myth that sport is man's game," she said.
The charity Women in Sport tweeted to say the list "illustrates all too clearly the gulf in pay and sponsorship between male and female sports stars, and how undervalued women are in sport". Dale agreed sponsorship is an issue.
"It's disappointing that more brands aren't thinking creatively and innovatively about sponsoring women's sport at every level," she said. "There are stories to be told, kudos to be gained and hearts and wallets to be won. In sponsorship world that is now more than viewing figures, it's time to identify new metrics. It will be good for society and for business."
Here's what other people are saying about the Forbes list:
Last year, Serena Williams was the only woman on the #Forbes 100 Highest Paid Athletes list. This year, there is not one female athlete represented. Don't come at me with viewership nonsense. Start with giving women the same opportunities and watch us rise #EqualPlayingFieldhttps://t.co/0F2tcoSDar
— Amirose Eisenbach (@Amirosie) June 6, 2018
For the first time ever since Forbes started compiling the world's 100 highest paid sports people, there is not a single woman in the list. Not one.
— Richard Udall, the Voice of St John's (@allray) June 5, 2018
What a damning indictment of the enormous disparity between men and women in sport. pic.twitter.com/uE77M4CbOA
Sports are not fair! Serena is more successful than all of them
— Alesia Morris (@alesiamorris) June 6, 2018
Women completely absent from Forbes top 100 top-earning sports stars.
Matt Stafford is #10 w/no playoff wins. However Colin Kaepernick goes to the Super Bowl twice but can't get a job. https://t.co/uTo4sfE6XO
Tennis players are the only female athletes that can ever crack this list. With Serena having her baby and Maria Sharapova being out due to her scandal last year, no other female athletes could do it.
— LCScreenTalk (@LCScreenTalk) June 6, 2018
It really is sad and female sports are automatically seen as inferior
No women in the Forbes 100 highest paid athletes list. Not exactly surprising but incredibly, incredibly depressing!!
— Stephen Jones (@stephenjtennis) June 5, 2018