Cristiano Ronaldo Tops Earnings in 2024
According to a recent report by Sportico, Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr has outstripped Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe to claim the title of the highest-paid athlete for 2024.
Cristiano Ronaldo, a longstanding icon in the world of soccer, continues to captivate audiences even in his 40s, remaining one of the sport’s most sought-after figures. The latest rankings reveal his remarkable financial success, with Ronaldo once again emerging as the highest-paid athlete of 2024, eclipsing other superstars like Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe.
His move to Al Nassr in December 2022 was part of Saudi Arabia’s strategy to enhance its soccer league and foster a vibrant football culture. Since then, the Portuguese forward has not only become the face of the Saudi Pro League but also the highest-paid individual in global sports.
As reported by Sportico, a notable American sports finance outlet, Ronaldo’s earnings for 2024 total an impressive $260 million. This figure is divided into $215 million from his salary and bonuses, with an additional $45 million from endorsements.
Top 10 Highest-Paid Athletes of 2024
With Ronaldo leading the charge, here are the top 10 highest-paid athletes for 2024, according to Sportico:
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Soccer) – Total income: $260M.
- Stephen Curry (Basketball) – Total income: $153.8M
- Tyson Fury (Boxing) – Total income: $147M
- Lionel Messi (Soccer) – Total income: $135M.
- LeBron James (Basketball) – Total income: $133.2M.
- Neymar (Soccer) – Total income: $133M.
- Oleksandr Usyk (Boxing) – Total income: $122M.
- Karim Benzema (Soccer) – Total income: $116M.
- Kylian Mbappe (Soccer) – Total income: $110M.
- Jon Rahm (Golf) – Total income: $105.8M.
Soccer Stars on the List
In addition to Ronaldo, several other soccer players prominently feature in the top 10. Messi, currently earning with Inter Miami, has a total of $60 million from salary and $75 million in endorsements, placing him fourth on the list.
Neymar, who played for Al Hilal before his return to Santos, earned $108 million from salary and $25 million from endorsements. Similarly, Benzema (with earnings of $108M and $8M) and Mbappe (earning $85M in salary and $25M in endorsements) also make the list, with Mbappe recognized as the highest-paid player in Europe.
Other notable soccer players in the ranking include Erling Haaland (24th with $70M), Mohamed Salah (38th with $55M), Vinicius Junior (38th with $55M), Riyad Mahrez (44th with $52M), Sadio Mane (67th with $45.5M), Harry Kane (81st with $42M), and Kevin de Bruyne (89th with $39.5M).
