Ronaldo Leads Earnings in Sportico’s Top Athlete List for Third Consecutive Year

Cristiano Ronaldo, renowned for his unprecedented social media following, has once again secured the top spot on Sportico’s earnings list for the third consecutive year. His contract with the Saudi Pro League team is reported to be worth $200 million (£149 million) over a span of 12 months, complemented by an additional $60 million (£45 million) from various other ventures.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has consistently earned over $100 million (£74 million) for nine consecutive years, surpassing the $200 million mark for the third time in his career. His impressive portfolio includes lucrative endorsement deals with major brands such as Nike, Herbalife, Binance, Perplexity, Yili, and Therabody, contributing to his staggering online follower count of over 1 billion.

Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi, closely associated with adidas and other brands, occupies the third position in the Sportico rankings. However, Messi’s earnings are significantly lower than Ronaldo’s, amounting to $130 million (£97 million) for 2025. He recently signed a contract extension with MLS Cup champions Inter Miami, valid through 2028.

Ronaldo is also negotiating new terms with Al-Nassr, with a historic agreement potentially extending through the summer of 2027. Speculation suggests that the ageless striker, now 40, may continue playing beyond that period.

Both Ronaldo and Messi are anticipated to participate in the upcoming World Cup, hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer.

Brazil’s all-time leading scorer Neymar is also expected to make an appearance at the tournament. He has recently signed a new contract with his boyhood club, Santos, and appears to be enjoying his football once again after battling several high-profile injuries. Following a return to Brazil in early 2025, Neymar’s earnings have significantly decreased, resulting in his drop from the Sportico top six to 30th place, with figures nearly $50 million (£37 million) lower than the previous year.

Collectively, the top 100 athletes earned a total of $6.05 billion (£4.5 billion), reflecting a 2.1% decrease from the previous year. The cutoff for the men’s list stood at $37.9 million (£28.2 million), while tennis sensation Coco Gauff emerged as the highest-paid female athlete, earning $37.5 million (£28 million).

Mexican boxing star Canelo Alvarez ranks between Ronaldo and Messi on the men’s list, having secured a profitable agreement with Saudi promoters. Notably, NBA players constitute 40% of the top 100, with LeBron James leading the pack, earning $80 million (£60 million) off the court. James has maintained his status as the highest-paid basketball player for 12 of the past 13 seasons, with only Stephen Curry interrupting that streak in 2024-25.

The NFL follows closely behind the NBA, contributing 22 athletes to the top 100. Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes leads this group, with fellow quarterbacks Josh Allen and Justin Herbert trailing close behind.

In football, 13 players made it to the top 100, with five in the top 20. Karim Benzema, also playing in the Saudi Pro League, ranks sixth, while Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe is just outside the top ten, and Manchester City’s prolific striker Erling Haaland sits at 18th.