Discussions continue regarding Cristiano Ronaldo’s standing as the greatest soccer player of all time; regardless, his financial performance this past year was unprecedented, with earnings reaching $275 million, surpassing the combined $1.4 billion earned by other top-tier athletes.
Turning 40 hasn’t diminished Cristiano Ronaldo’s prowess, as the Portuguese soccer legend continues his reign as the world’s highest-paid athlete for the third consecutive year and remarkably, for the fifth and time overall but has also reached a new peak in earnings. His estimated $275 million income over the last 12 months, before accounting for taxes and proxy fees, is comprised of his salary from Saudi Arabia’s AL-Nassr and his extensive off-field business activities.
Only boxer Floyd Mayweather, who made $300 million in 2015 and $285 million in 2018, is higher than Ronaldo on that list of all-time earnings. Ronaldo also leads Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, who is placed second by $119 million on the 2025 scoreboard.
The disparity is particularly remarkable given that Curry’s $156 million total surpasses LeBron James’ NBA record of $128.2 million from the previous season, setting a new record for his sport.
Beginning with James, who recorded a personal-best $133.8 million to make it list No.6, there are a number of eye-popping salaries among this year’s top ten sportsmen. Juan Soto, the New York Mets outfielder sporting number 7 and commanding a $114 million contract, achieved an MLB record. While Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, wearing number 4 with a $137 million deal, set an NFL record.
This year highest-earning athlete’s collectivity amassed a record $1.4 billion, a slight increase from last year’s $1.38 billion.
Remarkably, for only the second time (after 2024), all ten individuals on the list earned at least $100 million.
Notably, even heavyweight boxing champion oleksandr Usyk ($101 million) and golfer jon Rahm ($100 million) surpassed this threshold but didn’t make top ten.
Stephen Curry and Shohei Ohtani, the remarkable two-way player for the Los Angeles Dodgers (No.9, $102 million contract), both achieved an estimated $100 million in off-field earnings through endorsements in past year alone and similar ventures. And only three other athletes while still actively competing have ever achieved this level of off-field earnings: MMA star conor McGregor ($158 million in 2021), golf icon Tiger Woods ($105 million in 2009), and tennis greaty Rogert Federer ($100 million in 2020).
While Curry and Ohtani stand out for having no known business links to Saudi Arabia, a notable trend among top-earning athletes is the kingdom’s increasing influences in sports. These years after the launch of LIV Golf, four of the top ten highest-paid athletes in 2025 have significant Saudi Arabian ties.
Tyson Fury (No.3, $146 million) fought Usyk twice in Riyadh, Lionel Messi (No.5, $135 million) ears a substantial amount from a deal promoting Saudi tourism (a large portion of his $75 million off-field earnings), and Karim Benzema (No.8), who earns $104 million, plays for the Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad.
It’s also noteworthy that Cristiano Ronaldo, after two and a half seasons in the Saudi Pro-League, reportedly earns an estimated $225 million annually solely from his on-field salary.
Ronaldo’s current earnings show how much this ranking’s financial scale has grown. His $88 million total when he first topped the list in 2016, and the $93 million he earned the following year, would now both fall outside the top 14, even combined, those two years’ earning would still is $94 million less than his income this year.
Ronaldo’s time as a top earner might not be finished. Although his current contract with AL-Nasssr is expected to run out this summer, there are plans he could either sign a new deal with the same club or find another high-paying contract elsewhere.
