Cristiano Ronaldo is a money-making machine: In 2025, he earned twice as much as Messi

Cristiano Ronaldo continues to dominate not only on the pitch but also on the Forbes list of highest-paid athletes, topping the 2025 rankings with staggering earnings of €253 million.

Of that amount, €200 million comes directly from his club contract, with the remaining €53 million generated through endorsements and sponsorships. This places him comfortably ahead of all other global athletes, further cementing his status as a global commercial icon.

Coming in second is NBA star Stephen Curry, with total earnings of €143.5 million, while Lionel Messi ranks fifth with €124.2 million—less than half of Ronaldo’s earnings this year.

Only Floyd Mayweather has ever earned more than Ronaldo in a single year, achieving that feat twice: once in 2015 with €276 million, and again in 2018 with €262.2 million.

Football continues to dominate the top earnings list. In addition to Ronaldo and Messi, Karim Benzema ranks eighth with €95.7 million, while five other footballers also feature in the top 50:

• Kylian Mbappé – €90 million

• Neymar – €76 million

• Erling Haaland – €62 million

• Vinicius Junior – €55 million

• Sadio Mané – €54 million

Ronaldo’s dominance reflects not just his impact on the field but also his influence off it. His presence in Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr has attracted global sponsorships and massive media attention, showing that his brand power remains unmatched—even at 40 years old.

Top 10 highest-paid athletes in the world (2025, Forbes):

1. Cristiano Ronaldo – €253 million

2. Stephen Curry – €143.5 million

3. Dak Prescott – €126 million

4. Tyson Fury – €124.2 million

5. Lionel Messi – €124.2 million

6. LeBron James – €123.1 million

7. Juan Soto – €104.9 million

8. Karim Benzema – €95.7 million

9. Shohei Ohtani – €94.3 million

10. Kevin Durant – €93.3 million