Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo has once again cemented his dominance both on and off the pitch, topping Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-paid athletes for the third consecutive year — and the fifth time in his illustrious career. The Portuguese football icon, who currently plays for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, is estimated to have earned a staggering $275 million in total over the past year.
Ronaldo’s earnings are fueled by his record-breaking contract with Al-Nassr and an additional $15 million increase in off-field income. This boost stems from a combination of endorsement deals, brand partnerships, and a massive social media presence.
As of May, his follower count across platforms stood at a jaw-dropping 939 million. His growing influence online is further underscored by the launch of his YouTube channel, which attracted over 60 million subscribers within just three weeks.
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry climbed to second place on the list with $156 million. Curry, who made history by becoming the first NBA player to reach 4,000 career three-pointers in March, continues to draw major endorsement deals alongside his on-court salary.
Boxing heavyweight Tyson Fury claimed the third spot with $146 million, despite losing his titles to Oleksandr Usyk in December. Fury’s income was significantly bolstered by commercial endorsements, including a promotional campaign for Maltese tourism and a popular Netflix reality show.
NFL quarterback Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys came in fourth, earning $137 million thanks to a lucrative contract extension and record-breaking signing bonuses.
Lionel Messi, now playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, ranked fifth with $135 million, sustained by high-value endorsements with brands such as Adidas and Apple. Meanwhile, NBA legend LeBron James landed in sixth with $133.8 million.
Juan Soto of the MLB’s New York Mets earned a surprise seventh-place finish with $114 million, following a record-breaking $765 million, 15-year contract.
French striker Karim Benzema (eighth, $104 million), Japanese baseball sensation Shohei Ohtani (ninth, $102.5 million), and NBA star Kevin Durant (tenth, $101.4 million) completed the top ten list, highlighting the financial might and global appeal of elite athletes across diverse sports.
