Messi is third, and what about Cristiano? CR7 and Lionel’s amazing earnings let them dominate the sportsmen’s best-paid

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the most recognized athletes in the world, and they are arguably the greatest footballers of all time. While the two are not playing at the highest level in football, they continue to be the richest footballers in the world and the richest athletes in the world. Forbes released the highest-paid athletes in the world, and Messi is ranked third with earnings of around $135 million. Ronaldo is ranked the number one richest athlete in the world in the Forbes list as he has earnings of around $260 million. This makes sense since his luxurious contract at Al Nassr gives him a base salary of around $200 million.

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Five footballers are in the top 10 Forbes list of the world’s highest-paid athletes. Karim Benzema, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappé are on the list, which makes sense in terms of their contracts with their respective teams. Benzema and Neymar are two of the best-paid players in the Saudi Pro League. Benzema’s base salary is worth $106 million, while Neymar’s is $108 million. Mbappé is the best-paid player in Europe, as he earns $110 million.

The list could change drastically next year as Mbappé will have a reduced salary at Real Madrid next season, and Benzema is expected to leave Al Ittihad and the Saudi Pro League soon. Neymar could also leave Al Hilal and the Saudi Pro League next year as his contract runs out in the summer of 2025. The other athletes on the list are NFL player Lamar Jackson, NBA players Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Lebron James, and golf player Jon Rahm. Messi and Ronaldo are the only footballers in the top five earners in the list.

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Ronaldo’s record in the Forbes list

This is the fourth time that Cristiano Ronaldo has topped the Forbes ‘World’s highest-paid athletes’ list. CR7 has been a wealthy athlete for a very long time, but his move to Saudi Arabia in 2023 has boosted him to great heights. His contract with Al Nassr expires in the summer of 2025, but the Saudi Arabian club could offer him a one-year contract extension.