Follow usCristiano Ronaldo has once again cemented his status as the world’s highest-paid athlete, according to the latest annual rankings published by Forbes. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner and current Al Nassr forward earned a staggering $275 million between May 1, 2024, and May 1, 2025.
Ronaldo’s income includes $225 million from salary and bonuses with the Saudi club and an additional $50 million from endorsements and sponsorships.
On Forbes’ list of the top-earning athletes, 10 surpassed $101 million. See who ranked at the top, including three NBA stars, an NFL quarterback—and Cristiano Ronaldo.https://t.co/5gNtXrGLqK pic.twitter.com/uWt8INtlOf
— Forbes SportsMoney (@ForbesSports) May 15, 2025
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry ranks second on the list with a total of $156 million, made up of $56 million in salary and $100 million from sponsorships. The four-time NBA champion continues to command one of the sport’s largest off-court profiles.
Third place goes to British boxing superstar Tyson Fury, who brought in $146 million, most of which — $140 million — came from his in-ring performances, with just $6 million from endorsements.
Surprisingly, Lionel Messi, now playing for Inter Miami and an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, is only fifth on the list with $135 million. He was edged out by NFL quarterback Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys, who earned $137 million, driven heavily by his $127 million salary and bonuses.
Rounding out the Top 10 highest-paid athletes are:
- LeBron James (NBA) – $133 million
- Juan Soto (MLB) – $114 million
- Karim Benzema (Football) – $104 million
- Shohei Ohtani (MLB) – $102.5 million
- Kevin Durant (NBA) – $101.4 million
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