The decision to join Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr did wonders for Portuguese star forward Cristiano Ronaldo’s bank account. According to Forbes’ list, Ronaldo will be the highest-paid athlete in the world in 2023, with an estimated earnings of $136 million.
Forbes compiled the newest edition of The World’s 10 Highest-Paid Athletes list by combining on-the-field earnings like salaries and bonuses as well as off-the-field income from sponsorship deals, endorsements, and businesses.
Ronaldo tops the list with an estimated $46 million in on-the-field earnings, which were boosted by the $220 million deal he signed with Al Nassr. He also earned $90 million off-the-field, the fourth-most since Forbes started tracking the athletes’ earnings.
Behind Ronaldo are a duo of Paris Saint-Germain stars. Argentine forward Lionel Messi earned $130 million in the past 12 months, while his PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe received $120 million, including an astonishing $100 million in on-the-field earnings. Mbappe is the youngest athlete on the list and the only one younger than 30.
NBA star LeBron James, who recently became the first active athlete to be certified a billionaire, sits at No. 4 with $119.5 million in earnings. Boxer Canelo Álvarez rounds up the Top 5, having earned a total of $110 million.
Also in the Top 10 are pair of golfers Dustin Johnson ($107 million) and Phil Mickelson ($106 million), who sit at No. 6 and No. 7, respectively. Johnson and Mickelson benefited from their lucrative deals with the newly-formed golf tour LIV Golf.
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry is at No. 8 with $100.4 million in earnings, while retired tennis legend Roger Federer ($95.1 million) and Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant ($89.1 million) close out the list.
