Soccer legend continues financial dominance
Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has claimed the number one position on Forbes’ 2025 list of the world’s highest-paid athletes, amassing an estimated $275 million from his Al-Nassr salary and endorsement portfolio. This marks the fifth time overall and third consecutive year that Ronaldo has topped the prestigious ranking.
Ronaldo’s financial achievement stands as the third-highest earnings ever recorded on the Forbes list, trailing only boxing legend Floyd Mayweather’s $300 million in 2015 and $285 million in 2018.
The 39-year-old striker, who recently claimed to be “the most complete player ever” ahead of his upcoming 40th birthday, continues to dominate financially even as his playing career enters its final stages.
Messi places fifth with $135 million
While no Indian athletes cracked the top ten, Ronaldo’s longtime rival Lionel Messi secured the fifth position with total earnings of $135 million. The Argentine icon collected $60 million from his Major League Soccer (MLS) contract in the United States, supplemented by $75 million in endorsement deals.
NBA stars well-represented
The list features strong representation from basketball, with three NBA players making the top ten. Golden State Warriors’ sharpshooter Stephen Curry claimed the second position with $156 million in earnings, while Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James ranked sixth with $133.8 million. Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant rounded out the top ten with $101.4 million.
The top 10 highest-paid athletes
1. Cristiano Ronaldo: The Portuguese national topped the list with $275 million in earnings.
2. Steph Curry: Golden State Warriors’ basketball player is second on the list with a total earning of $156 million.
3. Tyson Fury: The UK-based boxer is third on the list with a total earning of $146 million.
4. Dak Prescott: The Dallas Cowboys quarterback earned $137 million and is fourth on the list.
5. Lionel Messi: The Argentine footballer is fifth on the list with a total earning of $135 million.
6. LeBron James: The Los Angeles Lakers star is sixth on the list with a total of $133.8 million.
7. Juan Soto: The MLB player is seventh on the list with total earnings of $114 million.
8. Karim Benzama: The French footballer is eighth on the list with net earnings of $140 million.
9. Shohei Ohtani: The Japanese national and two-way star in USA’s MLB is ninth on the list with total earnings of $102.5 million.
10. Kevin Durant: The American basketball player is tenth on the list with total earnings of $101.4 million.
Sports diversity reflects global appeal
The 2025 ranking showcases the global appeal of diverse sports, featuring soccer (3), basketball (3), baseball (2), boxing (1), and American football (1). The combined earnings of these ten athletes exceed $1.44 billion, underscoring the continued financial growth in professional sports despite global economic challenges.
