Professional sports contracts have been on the rise in recent years, with athletes from all over the world signing multi-million dollar deals. From soccer to American football, tennis to basketball, the world's biggest sports stars are earning eye-watering sums of money. Let us take a look at some of the most expensive sports contracts in history, and the athletes who signed them.

1. Lionel Messi:

Lionel Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time, and he's also one of the highest-paid. In 2017, Messi signed a contract extension with Barcelona that saw him earn a staggering $84 million per year. The deal included a $700 million buyout clause, which made it nearly impossible for any other team to sign him.

2. Patrick Mahomes:

Patrick Mahomes is a rising star in the NFL, and he's already signed one of the most lucrative contracts in sports history. In 2020, Mahomes signed a 10-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs worth $503 million. The contract includes $477 million in guaranteed mechanisms and signing bonuses, making it the richest contract in NFL history.

3. Canelo Alvarez:

Boxer Canelo Alvarez signed a record-breaking contract with DAZN in 2018, worth a reported $365 million over 11 fights. This makes it the richest contract in sports history at the time of signing. The deal was part of DAZN's attempt to challenge traditional pay-per-view models by offering fans a monthly subscription service.

4. Mike Trout:

Mike Trout is widely regarded as the best player in baseball, and he's certainly paid like it. In 2019, Trout signed a 12-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Angels worth $426.5 million. The deal is the largest in the history of North American team sports and will keep Trout in Anaheim until 2030.

5. Neymar Jr.:

Neymar Jr. became the most expensive player in football history when he was signed by Paris Saint-Germain for a record-breaking $263 million transfer fee in 2017. The Brazilian forward signed a five-year deal worth $350 million in total, making him one of the highest-paid athletes in the world.

6. Bryce Harper:

In 2019, baseball player Bryce Harper signed a 13-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies worth $330 million. The deal includes no-trade protection and a signing bonus of $20 million, making it one of the largest contracts in baseball history.

7. Giannis Antetokounmpo:

Basketball superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo signed a five-year contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2020 worth $228.2 million. The deal includes a player option for the 2025-26 season, and it's the largest contract in NBA history by total value.

Conclusion:

These contracts show just how much money is being thrown around in the world of professional sports. These athletes are some of the best in their respective sports, and they're being compensated accordingly. Whether it's Messi, Mahomes, Alvarez, Trout, Neymar Jr., Harper, or Antetokounmpo, they've all signed contracts that will see them earn millions of dollars over the course of their careers. As sports continue to grow in popularity and revenue, we can only expect these contracts to become even more expensive in the future.