Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo has once again claimed the top spot on Forbes’ annual list of the world’s highest-paid athletes, marking his third consecutive year at the summit and the fifth time overall in his career.
According to the business magazine, Ronaldo’s total earnings have surged to an estimated $275 million (approximately £206 million), up by $15 million from the previous year. This figure places him just behind boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, who holds the record for the highest annual earnings at $300 million in 2015.
The 40-year-old forward, who joined Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr in late 2022, continues to rake in massive off-field earnings through endorsements and sponsorships, powered by a staggering 939 million social media followers across platforms.
Meanwhile, Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry climbed to second place with $156 million (around £117 million) in total earnings. The four-time NBA champion recently made history as the first player in NBA history to hit 4,000 career three-pointers.
In third place is British boxer Tyson Fury, who earned $146 million (approximately £109 million) despite losing his heavyweight titles to Oleksandr Usyk in December. Fury’s earnings were boosted by a Netflix reality series and a lucrative tourism partnership with Malta.
Unfortunately, Ronaldo’s long-time rival, Messi, dropped to fifth on the list, falling further behind in the earnings race.
