Cristiano Ronaldo Tops Forbes’ List of Highest-Paid Athletes for 2024
Cristiano Ronaldo has once again claimed the top spot on Forbes’ list of highest-paid athletes, marking the fourth time in his illustrious career. The 39-year-old Portugal forward, who signed with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr in December 2022 on a deal running until 2025, earned a staggering $260 million (£205 million) over the past 12 months. This is a significant increase from the $136 million (£108.7 million) he earned the previous year.
Ronaldo’s great rival, Lionel Messi, has dropped to third place, while Spanish golfer Jon Rahm has surged to second. Rahm’s ascent is attributed to his switch to the Saudi-funded LIV Golf tour, which earned him $218 million (£172 million).
Other notable entries in the top 10 include footballers Neymar and Karim Benzema, who have both moved to the Saudi Pro League. Basketball stars LeBron James (fourth), Giannis Antetokounmpo (fifth), and Stephen Curry (ninth) also feature prominently. Rounding out the list is American football quarterback Lamar Jackson, securing the 10th spot.
According to Forbes, the world’s 10 highest-paid athletes collectively earned a record-breaking $1.38 billion (£1.06 billion) before taxes and agents’ fees over the past year. This marks the highest total ever recorded.
World’s Top 10 Highest-Paid Athletes 2024:
1. **Cristiano Ronaldo, Football:** $260m (£205m)
2. Jon Rahm, Golf: $218m (£172m)
3. Lionel Messi, Football: $135m (£107m)
4. LeBron James, Basketball: $128.2m (£101m)
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Basketball: $111m (£88m)
6. Kylian Mbappe, Football: $110m (£87m)
7. Neymar, Football: $108m (£85m)
8. Karim Benzema, Football: $106m (£84m)
9. Stephen Curry, Basketball: $102m (£80m)
10. Lamar Jackson, American Football: $100.5m (£79m)
This list not only highlights the immense earning power of top athletes across various sports but also underscores the growing financial influence of Saudi Arabian sports ventures. Ronaldo’s continued dominance and the rise of Rahm illustrate the shifting dynamics in global sports economics.
