Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has topped Forbes’s global list of highest-paid athletes, earning $260 million in the past 12 months, twice as much as his rival Lionel Messi.
Ronaldo became the highest-paid athlete after moving to Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. The 39-year-old star’s earnings include a $200 million fixed salary and $60 million from sponsorship deals, thanks to his massive social media following.
In contrast, Messi, who moved to Inter Miami in the MLS, earned $135 million, placing him third on the list. This includes $65 million in salary and $70 million from sponsorships with brands like Adidas and Apple.
Golfer Jon Rahm is second on the list, earning $218 million after joining the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s tournament system.
The top five also include NBA stars LeBron James ($128.2 million) and Giannis Antetokounmpo ($111 million). Other notable athletes include Kylian Mbappe ($110 million), Neymar ($108 million), Karim Benzema ($106 million), Steph Curry, and Lamar Jackson (both $100.5 million).
Overall, the 50 highest-paid athletes earned $3.88 billion over the past year, with the NBA contributing the most athletes to the list. The earnings highlight a generational shift, with many long-time top earners retiring or nearing the end of their careers.
