Cristiano Ronaldo has once again cemented his place not just on the pitch but also in the financial world. The Portuguese icon has been ranked as the highest-earning athlete in 2024, beating long-time rival Lionel Messi as well as NBA stars LeBron James and Steph Curry.
According to figures published by bestbettingsitesoffers.co.uk and reported by The Sun, the 40-year-old Al-Nassr forward leads the top ten with staggering earnings of £192.40 million ($260m).
Ronaldo heads the top 10 highest-earning athletes, Messi 2nd
While Ronaldo’s dominance may not come as a surprise, the size of his lead certainly does. He is said to have earned almost double Messi’s total of £99.90 million ($135m).
Spanish golfer Jon Rahm claimed second place with £161.32 million ($218m), underlining golf’s growing financial clout.
The top ten was also filled with familiar names from football and basketball. Kylian Mbappé ranked sixth with £81.4m, Neymar came seventh with £79.92m, and Karim Benzema secured eighth with £78.44m.
From the NBA, LeBron James finished fourth with £94.87m, while Steph Curry occupied ninth place with £75.38m.
The report highlighted Messi’s unique standing in the sports world. It claims that the Argentine earns more off the pitch than on it, thanks to his unparalleled “worldwide brand recognition,” as noted by GOAL.
He is one of only two athletes in the top ten whose commercial revenue outweighs his sporting income.
Yet, even with that advantage, he remains far behind Ronaldo’s extraordinary overall total — as the two greats continue their rivalry in a different arena.
Back-to-back No.1 rankings for Ronaldo
This marks the second consecutive year that Ronaldo has been crowned the world’s highest-paid athlete, having also topped Forbes’ list in 2023.
The rankings factor in not just salaries and prize money, but also sponsorships, endorsements, and commercial deals.
The heavy presence of footballers — particularly those now plying their trade in the wealthy Saudi Pro League — reflects the sport’s immense financial power on a global scale.
Despite their off-field riches, both Ronaldo and Messi remain focused on football.
With crucial domestic campaigns ahead and the World Cup looming next summer, the two icons will be aiming to stay fit and competitive, adding yet another chapter to their legendary rivalry.