Cristiano Ronaldo has once again claimed the crown as the world’s highest-earning athlete, edging out long-time rival Lionel Messi.
According to recent data compiled by bestbettingsitesoffers.co.uk and reported by The Sun, the 40-year-old Portuguese superstar earned a staggering £192.4 million ($260 million) over the past year, nearly double Messi’s reported £99.9 million ($135 million).
Golf sensation Jon Rahm finished second on the list, earning £161.3 million ($218 million), while NBA legends LeBron James (£94.87m/$128m) and Steph Curry (£75.38m/$102m) also featured prominently among the top earners.
Footballers dominated the rankings, with Kylian Mbappe (£81.4m/$110m) in sixth, Neymar (£79.9m/$108m) in seventh, and Karim Benzema (£78.4m/$106m) in eighth place.
The report highlights that Messi continues to earn significantly off the pitch, leveraging his global brand appeal, one of only two athletes on the top ten to generate more income from endorsements and sponsorships than from salaries and winnings.
Nevertheless, even Messi’s off-field earnings couldn’t match Ronaldo’s extraordinary haul.
This marks the second year in a row Ronaldo has topped the global earnings chart, reflecting not just his salary and prize money but also a vast portfolio of sponsorships and business ventures.
The prominence of footballers on the list underscores the financial power of the sport, particularly given that several of the top earners, including Ronaldo and Messi, now ply their trade in the lucrative Saudi Pro League.
Ronaldo and Messi’s ongoing rivalry continues beyond the pitch, now extending into the financial arena, where the former Real Madrid and Manchester United stars remain unparalleled icons of the modern sporting world.