Cristiano Ronaldo has once again topped Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-paid athletes in 2025 — marking his third consecutive year at No. 1 and the fifth time in his career.
The Portuguese superstar, currently playing for Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr, raked in an estimated $275 million over the past year. This includes a $15 million boost in off-field earnings from lucrative endorsement deals and sponsorships, driven largely by his massive social media presence, which now totals 939 million followers.
Although Ronaldo’s tenure in the Saudi Pro League has yet to deliver a major trophy, his marketability and global brand continue to dominate.
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Trailing Ronaldo is Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, who earned $156 million. Curry, who became the first NBA player to surpass 4,000 career 3-pointers this year, continues to benefit from both record NBA contracts and endorsement deals.
In third place is heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury with $146 million, despite losing his titles to Oleksandr Usyk. Fury’s income was buoyed by promotional deals, including one with Malta’s tourism board, and his Netflix reality show.
Dak Prescott, quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, ranked fourth with $137 million, boosted by a historic contract extension and substantial signing bonuses.
Fifth is Lionel Messi, who remains a global icon with $135 million in earnings, unchanged from 2024. His move to MLS side Inter Miami CF and continuing endorsements from brands like Adidas and Apple contribute to his steady income.
LeBron James, who is nearing the twilight of his NBA career, sits sixth at $133.8 million, followed by Juan Soto of the New York Mets. Soto, at seventh with $114 million, made headlines with a $765 million, 15-year deal — the largest contract in Major League Baseball history.
At eighth is Karim Benzema, now playing for Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, with $104 million. Ninth is Japanese baseball phenom Shohei Ohtani, who earned $102.5 million, much of which stems from endorsements and the Los Angeles Dodgers’ World Series win.
Rounding out the top 10 is NBA forward Kevin Durant, who brought in $101.4 million from his playing salary and diversified investment portfolio.
World’s 10 Highest-Paid Athletes in 2025:
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Football) – $275M
- Stephen Curry (Basketball) – $156M
- Tyson Fury (Boxing) – $146M
- Dak Prescott (American Football) – $137M
- Lionel Messi (Football) – $135M
- LeBron James (Basketball) – $133.8M
- Juan Soto (Baseball) – $114M
- Karim Benzema (Football) – $104M
- Shohei Ohtani (Baseball) – $102.5M
- Kevin Durant (Basketball) – $101.4M
