Cristiano Ronaldo Tops Sportico List of 2025's Highest-Paid Athletes, Full Rankings Revealed

For the third consecutive year, Cristiano Ronaldo was the highest-paid athlete in the world.

Sportico has unveiled the list of the 100 highest-paid athletes in 2025, with Ronaldo easily in the top spot with total earnings of $260 million. Canelo Álvarez came in second at $137 million, followed by Lionel Messi with $130 million.

Here are the athletes who filled out the top 10:

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Soccer): $260 million
2. Canelo Álvarez (Boxing): $137 million
3. Lionel Messi (Soccer): $130 million
4. Juan Soto (MLB): $129.2 million
5. LeBron James (NBA): $128.7 million
6. Karim Benzema (Soccer): $115 million
7. Stephen Curry (NBA): $105.4 million
8. Shohei Ohtani (MLB): $102.5 million
9. Kevin Durant (NBA): $100.8 million
10. Jon Rahm (LIV Golf): $100.7 million

Ronaldo has been the highest-paid athlete every year since signing his original deal with Al-Nassr of the Saudi Pro League. The deal reportedly guaranteed him at least $75 million per year, with the ability to get it up to $200 million through commercial agreements with the club.

The 40-year-old announced in June that he extended his deal with Al-Nassr through 2027. Financial terms of his new agreement weren't made available.

Saudi Arabia's growing presence in the sports world can definitely be felt on this list. Ronaldo, Álvarez, Karim Benzema and Jon Rahm all have deals to work with the country. Álvarez defeated William Scull in May in a bout at ANB Arena in Riyadh.

Benzema signed with Al-Ittihad in June 2023 for the same financial terms as Ronaldo's original deal with Al-Nassr. Rahm just finished the second year of multiyear deal worth a reported $300 million with LIV Golf.

LeBron James regained the top spot as the NBA's highest-earning player after Stephen Curry led the group in 2024. The difference is in endorsement deals, with James receiving $80 million and Curry making $50 million.

Curry dropping down came after he split from Under Armour in November. The two-time MVP is currently a sneaker free agent.

Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani after the first MLB players to make the top 10 since Sportico began tracking the list in 2021. Ohtani is the highest-earning player overall by endorsement money with $100 million in deals.

The vast majority of Soto's earnings came from his $46.9 million salary and $75 million signing bonus with the New York Mets. His $7 million in endorsements was the second-lowest of anyone in the top 10, ahead of only Benzema ($5 million).