The 2025 rankings of the world’s highest-paid athletes have been released, showcasing football legend Cristiano Ronaldo in the top position.
Compiled by Sportico, the list encompasses athletes from eight different sports, collectively earning over $6 billion (all figures in US dollars).
Advertisement
This list reflects total income for 2025, considering salaries, prize money, and endorsement deals.
Despite being 40 years old, Ronaldo, who plays for Al-Nassr and the Portugal national team, leads the pack with an impressive total of $260 million, comprised of $200 million from his salary and $60 million from sponsorships.
Ronaldo’s earnings are double that of his longtime rival, Lionel Messi, who ranks third with $130 million, while boxer Canelo Álvarez takes second place.
The only other footballer to make the top 10 is Karim Benzema, who is seventh with $115 million in earnings.
Here’s the complete list of footballers:
1. Cristiano Ronaldo – $260 million
3. Lionel Messi – $130 million
7. Karim Benzema – $115 million
Advertisement
12. Kylian Mbappé – $95 million
18. Erling Haaland – $77.9 million
30. Neymar – $60 million
34. Vinícius Júnior – $58 million
43. Mohamed Salah – $54 million
45. Riyad Mahrez – $53.5 million
52. Sadio Mané – $50 million
75. Harry Kane – $43.4 million
86. Jude Bellingham – $39.5 million
96. Robert Lewandowski – $38 million
This latest data confirms Ronaldo’s position at the top for the third consecutive year.
📸 Yasser Bakhsh – 2026 Getty Images