Ronaldo pocketed a total of 261 million USD in the past 12 months, mainly from his massive contract with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, according to Sun Sport's list. A contract extension in June bumped the 40-year-old superstar's salary up to 662,000 USD per day, making him the highest-paid athlete on the planet.
 |
Ronaldo (right) maintains his position as the highest-earning athlete in the world, increasingly surpassing Messi. Photo: Sportskeeda |
Ronaldo (right) maintains his position as the highest-earning athlete in the world, increasingly surpassing Messi. Photo: Sportskeeda
Lionel Messi ranks third on the list with 136 million USD, 52% of Ronaldo's earnings. The Inter Miami captain is no longer at his peak but remains a global brand. Messi's off-field income is even higher than his salary, thanks to a series of major endorsement deals.
The list is dominated by football, with five representatives. 2022 Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema ranks eighth with 106 million USD, primarily from his blockbuster contract after joining Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia. Despite being 37, the French striker still enjoys top-tier compensation thanks to the massive investment wave from the Saudi Pro League.
Neymar ranks seventh with 108 million USD in earnings. The Brazilian star earned a huge salary at Al Hilal, despite barely playing due to injury. The 33-year-old has returned to his hometown club Santos, but his old contract in Saudi Arabia is still enough to put him in the top 10.
The youngest on the list is Kylian Mbappe, ranked sixth with 110 million USD. After moving to Real Madrid, the 26-year-old forward received a huge signing bonus and a series of endorsement deals. He is expected to further increase his income as he enters the peak of his career.
Basketball has the second most athletes on the list, with LeBron James at 129 million USD, Giannis Antetokounmpo at 111 million USD, and Stephen Curry at 102 million USD. Second place on the list surprisingly belongs to Spanish golfer Jon Rahm. He was chosen by Saudi Arabia as a brand ambassador as they invested in golf recently. At the bottom of the list is American football player Lamar Jackson, with 101 million USD.
Hoang An (according to Sun Sport)
