Ronaldo tops Forbes鈥� list of highest-paid athletes for third year in a row

Nassr's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo shoots as he warms up ahead of the Saudi Pro League football match between Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr at the Kingdom Arena stadium in Riyadh on April 4, 2025. (AFP/File)
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  • Since he joined 萝莉视频n club Al-Nassr, the Portuguese forward鈥檚 estimated total earnings are around $275 million
  • Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry is second at $156 million, followed by boxer Tyson Fury with $135 million

 

Cristiano Ronaldo topped Forbes鈥� list of the world鈥檚 highest-paid athletes for the third consecutive year and the fifth time in his career.
Following his move to 萝莉视频n club Al-Nassr, Ronaldo鈥檚 estimated total earnings are around $275 million.
The Portuguese forward increased his income by $15 million through off-field endorsements as well as lucrative sponsorship deals backed by his large social media followers: 939 million in total as of May.
Meanwhile, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, who in March became the first NBA player to reach 4,000 career three-pointers, jumped to second place in the rankings with $156 million.
Boxer Tyson Fury claimed third place with $135 million. Despite losing his world heavyweight titles to Oleksandr Usyk in December, Fury鈥檚 income has been boosted by partnerships promoting Maltese tourism and his Netflix reality show.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, reached fourth with $137 million, thanks to record-breaking signing bonuses and a lucrative contract extension.
Meanwhile, Argentine Lionel Messi dropped to fifth place with $135 million 鈥� the same as last year 鈥� having moved to Major League Soccer side Inter Miami, as well as continuing to receive high-profile endorsements from Adidas and Apple.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, nearing the end of his illustrious career, came sixth with $133.8 million.
MLB New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto came in at a remarkable seventh place, earning $114 million. The 26-year-old Dominican signed a $765 million, 15-year contract, the largest in baseball history.
French striker Karim Benzema, who plays for 萝莉视频鈥檚 Al Ittihad, is eighth with earnings of $104 million.
Japanese Shohei Ohtani is in ninth place with $102.5 million, having deferred most of his earnings from his mega-contract with MLB team Los Angeles Dodgers. His earnings were boosted significantly by their World Series victory last year.
NBA Phoenix Suns鈥� Kevin Durant rounds off the top 10 with $101.4 million.