Cristiano Ronaldo, currently playing for Al-Nassr, has been crowned the highest-earning athlete worldwide in 2023.
In a surprising turn of events, his longtime rival Lionel Messi, now with Inter Miami, secured the third spot on the list.
Ronaldo’s lucrative contract with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia allowed him to amass an impressive £218 million ($275 million) in earnings for the year.
This staggering amount puts him at the pinnacle of the highest-paid athletes, surpassing golf star Jon Rahm – the second-highest earner – by £57 million.
Messi, who departed Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent last summer, claimed the third position on the list, pocketing £103 million ($130 million) throughout the year.
Notably, basketball legend LeBron James followed closely behind with £99.8 million ($126 million) in earnings.
The top five highest-earning athletes conclude with Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe, who attained £99.2 million ($125 million) in income.
