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Cristiano Ronaldo’s massive income puts him miles ahead of his rival Lionel Messi.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi (AP/PTI)
Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo has once again topped the list of the world’s highest-paid athletes. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner opened a new tab with a jaw-dropping net income of $260 million in 2024. The majority of the 40-year-old’s earnings came from his salary and winnings for Al Nassr. The Portuguese star has a lucrative contract with the Saudi Pro League club. His current deal saw him get paid a huge sum of $215 million last year. He made another $45 million through off-the-field endorsements. Ronaldo’s massive income puts him miles ahead of his arch-rival Lionel Messi who sealed fourth place on the list with total earnings of $135 million.
Earlier this year it was rumoured that Cristiano Ronaldo could be on his way out of Al Nassr for a new challenge. Recent reports, however, suggest that Ronaldo will likely extend his deal by another year. The contract extension will tie him to the Saudi Pro League side until June 2026. Ronaldo shocked the world in December 2022 when he announced a move away from Europe. The 40-year-old joined Al Nassr after a poor run with Manchester United. He has competed in 91 games for the Knights of Najd, scoring 82 goals and providing 19 assists. His spoils in Saudi Arabia helped him become the first footballer to register 900 career goals in official matches.
Lionel Messi, on the other hand, chose to move to Major League Soccer (MLS) after a two-year stint at Paris Saint-Germain. His lucrative contract with Inter Miami and endorsement deals with huge brands formed the major chunk of his net pay. Brazilian footballer Neymar grabbed the sixth position with earnings of $133 million. After being sidelined with injuries for the majority of his tenure at Al Hilal, Neymar was forced to move back to his boyhood club Santos. French football stars Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe take the eighth and the ninth spots, respectively. Benzema secured a move to Al Ittihad after a Ballon d’Or-winning season at Real Madrid. Mbappe, whereas, represented Ligue 1 outfit Paris Saint-Germain before moving to LaLiga.
Top 10 Highest-paid Athletes in 2024:
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Football): $260 million
- Stephen Curry (Basketball): $153.8 million
- Tyson Fury (Boxing): $147 million
- Lionel Messi (Football): $135 million
- LeBron James (Basketball): $133.2 million
- Neymar (Football): $133 million
- Oleksandr Usyk (Boxing): $122 million
- Karim Benzema (Football): $116 million
- Kylian Mbappe (Football): $110 million
- John Rahm (Golf): $105.8 million
