Ronaldo leads earnings list

May 18, 2024 vloghd portal

Cristiano Ronaldo Tops Forbes’ Highest-Paid Athletes List

Cristiano Ronaldo, nearing the end of his illustrious career, has topped Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-paid athletes, thanks to his substantial earnings in Saudi Arabia. Over the past 12 months, Ronaldo earned $260 million, with $200 million coming from his club contract with Al-Nassr and $60 million from off-field activities.

Ronaldo, 39, leads the rankings for the fourth time, surpassing golfer Jon Rahm and Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi. Rahm, who joined the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Tour in December, earned $218 million, with $198 million from playing wages. Messi’s total earnings reached $135 million, with $70 million from off-field payments.

Ronaldo, one of four Saudi-based soccer players in the top 50, debuted for Al-Nassr in January 2023. This season, Al-Nassr is set to finish second in the Saudi Pro League behind Al-Hilal.

For the first time, the top 10 highest-paid athletes each earned more than $100 million, combining for a record $1.38 billion. The list includes NBA stars LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Steph Curry, as well as soccer players Neymar, Karim Benzema, and Kylian Mbappé. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is the highest-earning NFL player, ranking 10th.

No women made the top 50 of Forbes’ list for the first time since 2019. Historically, only Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Li Na, and Naomi Osaka have made the list since 2012.

Forbes’ figures are based on conversations with industry insiders, news reports, and salary databases like Spotrac, with all amounts converted to US dollars.