Cristiano Ronaldo has once again cemented his status as the world’s highest-paid athlete, topping Forbes’ 2025 ranking with a staggering $275 million in earnings — a feat he has now achieved for the third consecutive year and the fifth time overall.
The 39-year-old Portuguese star, now playing for Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, has turned his massive global popularity into gold, thanks to endorsements and sponsorships that added $15 million to his income, driven by a social media following of nearly 1 billion people.
Despite his record earnings, Ronaldo’s on-field success in Saudi Arabia has been modest, with no major silverware to show since his transfer.
Hot on his heels is NBA sharpshooter Stephen Curry, who leapt into second place with $156 million, buoyed by his historic 4,000 three-pointers milestone and lucrative endorsement deals.
British boxing heavyweight Tyson Fury clinched third with $146 million, capitalizing on commercial success despite a high-profile loss to Oleksandr Usyk. His Netflix reality show and tourism partnerships helped elevate his income.
NFL quarterback Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys surged into fourth, making $137 million — thanks in large part to a record-setting contract extension.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi, now plying his trade with Inter Miami CF in Major League Soccer, slipped to fifth, earning $135 million. His income held steady thanks to continued endorsement deals with brands like Apple and Adidas.
LeBron James, the aging yet iconic NBA legend, ranked sixth with $133.8 million, followed by MLB outfielder Juan Soto, who made $114 million after signing the largest contract in baseball history with the New York Mets.
Karim Benzema (eighth, $104 million), Shohei Ohtani (ninth, $102.5 million), and Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (tenth, $101.4 million) round out the top 10, representing a mix of football, baseball, and basketball dominance on the global earnings stage.
While Ronaldo remains the financial king, the list reflects a growing commercial diversification across multiple sports — and a shift in athlete earnings driven as much by brand value as by athletic performance.
