The Manchester United forward, Cristiano Ronaldo is now Forbes’ highest-paid footballer in the world. The Portuguese has overtaken his greatest rival Lionel Messi in earnings. Forbes reveals that Ronaldo earns an astonishing $125 million per year in salaries ($70m) and endorsements ($50m).
Ronaldo earns $55 million of his annual income from commercial and sponsorship deals
Ronaldo is set to earn $125 million (£91.5m) before taxes during the 2021-22 season, with $70m (£51.25m) of that coming from his salary and bonuses from Manchester United. According to Forbes, the 36-year-old earns close to $55 million of his annual income from commercial and sponsorship deals. The brands comprise Nike, Herbalife, and the CR7 brand, which includes perfumes, clothing ranges, hotels, and gyms.
Ronaldo’s income through sponsorship deals is one of the highest in the sporting world. Only three active sportsmen are ahead of the Portuguese star in that regard. They are tennis legend Roger Federer ($90 million), basketball star LeBron James ($65 million), and golf king Tiger Woods ($60 million).
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi is second on the list, earning $110 million (£80.5m) during his first season at Paris Saint-Germain. Currently, Messi is sponsored by brands including Adidas, Pepsi, and Budweiser. His teammate Neymar is in third place with a total of $95 million from both salaries and deals.
Forbes’ top 10 highest-paid footballer
| Player | Club | 2021-22 Total earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Manchester United | $125m/ £91.5m |
| Lionel Messi | Paris Saint-Germain | $110m/ £80.5m |
| Neymar | Paris Saint-Germain | $95m/ £69.5m |
| Kylian Mbappe | Paris Saint-Germain | $43m/ £31.5m |
| Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | $41m/ £30m |
| Robert Lewandowski | Bayern Munich | $35m/ £26m |
| Andres Iniesta | Vissel Kobe | $35m/ £26m |
| Paul Pogba | Manchester United | $34m/ £25m |
| Gareth Bale | Real Madrid | $32m/ £23.5m |
| Eden Hazard | Real Madrid | $29m/ £21m |