Cristiano Ronaldo Named 2025’s Highest-Paid Athlete as Sportico Releases Full Rankings
- Gerald Lim
- Jan 17
- 3 min read
Cristiano Ronaldo Still Reigns as the World’s Highest-Paid Athlete in 2025
For the third year running, Cristiano Ronaldo has finished at the very top of the global earnings chart, reinforcing his status as the most commercially powerful athlete on the planet.
According to Sportico’s 2025 highest-paid athletes ranking, the Portuguese superstar generated an astonishing $260 million in total income, comfortably clear of the rest of the field. His closest challenger, boxing icon Canelo Álvarez, earned $137 million, while longtime rival Lionel Messi followed with $130 million.
The Top 10 Highest-Paid Athletes in 2025
Rank | Athlete | Sport | Earnings |
1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Football | $260M |
2 | Canelo Álvarez | Boxing | $137M |
3 | Lionel Messi | Football | $130M |
4 | Juan Soto | Baseball (MLB) | $129.2M |
5 | LeBron James | Basketball (NBA) | $128.7M |
6 | Karim Benzema | Football | $115M |
7 | Stephen Curry | Basketball (NBA) | $105.4M |
8 | Shohei Ohtani | Baseball (MLB) | $102.5M |
9 | Kevin Durant | Basketball (NBA) | $100.8M |
10 | Jon Rahm | Golf (LIV) | $100.7M |
Ronaldo’s Saudi Deal Continues to Pay Off
Ronaldo has topped the earnings list every year since joining Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. His original contract reportedly guaranteed around $75 million annually, with performance bonuses and commercial partnerships pushing that figure significantly higher.
In June, the 40-year-old confirmed he has extended his stay with Al-Nassr until 2027, although the financial details of the new agreement were not disclosed. Even without official figures, his position at the top of the list leaves little doubt about the scale of the deal.
Saudi Arabia’s Growing Influence on Global Sport
The rankings also highlight Saudi Arabia’s expanding role in elite sports. Several athletes in the top 10 are now tied to Saudi-backed leagues or events:
Cristiano Ronaldo – Al-Nassr (Saudi Pro League)
Karim Benzema – Al-Ittihad, on a deal similar to Ronaldo’s original contract
Jon Rahm – LIV Golf, reportedly on a multi-year agreement worth around $300 million
Canelo Álvarez – Headlined a major bout in Riyadh earlier this year
This trend reflects the country’s increasing investment across football, boxing, and golf.
NBA Earnings: LeBron Back on Top
Within basketball, LeBron James reclaimed his place as the NBA’s top earner, overtaking Stephen Curry. The key difference came from endorsements, where James pulled in roughly $80 million, compared to Curry’s $50 million.
Curry’s drop follows his high-profile split from Under Armour in late 2024, leaving the two-time MVP as a sneaker free agent for now.
Baseball’s Breakthrough Moment
For the first time since Sportico began tracking these rankings in 2021, two MLB players cracked the top 10:
Shohei Ohtani led all athletes in endorsement income, banking an estimated $100 million off the field.
Juan Soto earned the bulk of his income through his blockbuster deal with the New York Mets, including a massive signing bonus and salary package.
Soto’s endorsement earnings were relatively modest at $7 million, second only to Benzema’s $5 million among the top 10.
Final Take
The 2025 rankings underline a clear reality: elite athlete earnings are no longer driven by salaries alone. Global reach, endorsement power, and emerging sports markets—particularly in the Middle East—are reshaping how superstars build their wealth.
At the centre of it all remains Cristiano Ronaldo, still setting the benchmark for sporting success and commercial dominance well into his forties.
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