Cristiano Ronaldo has once again claimed the top spot on Forbes’ annual list of the world’s highest-paid athletes — marking the third consecutive year the Portuguese footballer has led the rankings and the fifth time in his career.
According to Forbes, Ronaldo’s total estimated earnings rose by $15 million in the past year, bringing his 2025 total to $275 million (approximately £206.6 million). This figure is one of the highest ever recorded, second only to Floyd Mayweather’s $300 million earnings in 2015 and equal to Mayweather’s 2018 earnings of $275 million.
Now 40, Ronaldo has continued to benefit financially from his move to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr in December 2022. In addition to his salary, a significant portion of his income stems from lucrative sponsorships and endorsements, boosted by his global appeal and massive social media following, which currently stands at 939 million across platforms.
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry climbed to second place with earnings of $156 million (approx. £117.2 million), thanks in part to on-court performance milestones, including becoming the first NBA player to reach 4,000 career three-pointers in March.
British heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury rose to third on the list with $146 million (approx. £109.7 million), despite losing his world titles to Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk in December. His earnings were bolstered by the success of his Netflix reality series and a promotional partnership with Maltese tourism.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s long-time rival Lionel Messi slipped to fifth place, falling behind NFL quarterback Dak Prescott, who came in fourth with $137 million (£103 million).
Top 10 Highest-Paid Athletes in the World (2025)
All figures in USD and approximate GBP equivalents
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Cristiano Ronaldo (Football) – $275m (£206.6m)
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Stephen Curry (Basketball) – $156m (£117.2m)
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Tyson Fury (Boxing) – $146m (£109.7m)
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Dak Prescott (American Football) – $137m (£103m)
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Lionel Messi (Football) – $135m (£101.4m)
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LeBron James (Basketball) – $133.8m (£105.5m)
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Juan Soto (Baseball) – $114m (£85.7m)
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Karim Benzema (Football) – $104m (£78.2m)
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Shohei Ohtani (Baseball) – $102.5m (£77m)
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Kevin Durant (Basketball) – $101.4m (£76.2m)
