The sports world just got its latest power rankings – not on the pitch or court, but in the bank. Forbes has released its annual list of the world’s 50 highest paid athletesand offers an insight into the astonishing sums earned over a variety of disciplines from football to boxing to basketball. And at the top of the financial summit is a familiar name.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been crowned the world’s highest paid athletes for the third year in a rowwhich was revealed in Forbes 2025 ranking. But lurks further down the list is another legend, whose long-standing rivalry with Ronaldo often plays out in both cutlery and wages. So where is Lionel Messi in the latest economic face?
For the period between May 1 2024 and May 1 2025the 50 best athletes combined to earn a jaw. $ 4.23 billionCrushed last year’s record of $ 3.88 billion. The nail is not only a reflection of ever -increasing contracts and sponsorship but also of new leagues that transform the landscape with elite sports income.
At the top is Cristiano Ronaldowhose move to Saudi Arabia’s Al NassR has turbocharged its revenue. According to ForbesThe “Ronaldo earned $ 275 million over the past 12 months – $ 225 million from its gaming contract and $ 50 million from approvals and commercial investments.”
That sum makes him The second highest one -year service in historyBehind Floyd Mayweather’s $ 300 million trait in 2015. It also puts Ronaldo $ 119 million before the second name on the listNBA star Stephen Curry, who took in $ 156 million.
And what about Messi?
Now at Inter Miami and one of Major League Soccer’s Marquee name, Lionel Messi ranked fifth on the Forbes list with a total revenue of $ 135 million. While his commercial appeal continues to thrive in North America-Har his revenue in the field disappeared by his long-standing opponents.
“Messi’s annual revenue was reported to be $ 135 million, marginally before La Lakers’ LeBron James,” wrote Forbes. Although the Argentine joints in some sponsorship metrics, Ronaldo’s blockbuster Saudi business remains unsurpassed in value.
Top 10 Highest paid athletes (May 2025)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (football) – $ 275 million
- Stephen Curry (Basketball) – $ 156 million
- Tyson Fury (boxing) – $ 146 million
- DAK Prescott (NFL) – $ 137 million
- Lionel Messi (football) – $ 135 million
- Lebron james (basketball) – $ 133.8 million
- Juan Soto (Baseball) – $ 114 million
- Karim Benzema (football) – $ 104 million
- Shohei Ohtani (Baseball) – $ 102.5 million
- Kevin Durant (basketball) – $ 101.4 million
Shifts in football power base
The upper part of the list reflects a seismic change in football’s earnings power – and Saudi Arabia is the essence of it. By the side of Ronaldo, Karim Benzema ($ 104 million), Neymar ($ 76 million) and Sadio Mane ($ 54 million) Everyone made the top 50, thanks to lucrative contracts in the Saudi Pro League.
“Half of the eight football players on Forbes’ list played in the Saudi Pro League,” The newspaper noted and emphasized the country’s growing influence before its role as host for the World Cup 2034.
However Premier League had only one representative in top 50: Erling Haalandthat ranked 34th with $ 62 million. Even global stars such as Mohamed Salah and Kevin de Bruyne, presented in previous ranking, failed to make the cut this year. The only other major European league with representatives was The leaguewith Kylian Mbappe earns $ 90 million (16th) and Vinicius junior of 46th with $ 55 million.
