The rivalry between two of football’s biggest icons—Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi—never truly ends, whether on the pitch or in terms of earnings. In 2025, however, the contest has produced a clear winner. The Portuguese superstar has once again topped the list of the world’s highest-paid athletes, making history, while pushing Messi down to third place.
According to data from the renowned sports business outlet Sportico, Al-Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo earned a staggering $260 million over the past year. Of that amount, $200 million came from salary, while $60 million was generated through sponsorships and personal business ventures. This marks the third consecutive year that Ronaldo has been crowned the world’s highest-paid athlete.
Second on the list is Mexican boxing star Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez, who earned an estimated $137 million. Despite a recent defeat to Terence Crawford, Canelo has maintained a strong position financially.
In third place is Lionel Messi, who earned $130 million in 2025. Nearly $70 million of that total came from sponsorships and commercial deals. His success with Inter Miami and his continued influence while wearing the Argentina jersey have helped solidify his status as a global brand.
Rounding out the top five are:
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Juan Soto (Baseball, New York Mets) — $129.2 million
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LeBron James (Basketball, Los Angeles Lakers) — $128.7 million
In addition to Ronaldo and Messi, football is also represented in the top ten by French star Karim Benzema, the Al-Ittihad forward, who earned $115 million to claim sixth place.
Top 10 Highest-Paid Athletes of 2025
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Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Football) — $260 million
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Canelo Álvarez (Mexico, Boxing) — $137 million
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Lionel Messi (Argentina, Football) — $130 million
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Juan Soto (Dominican Republic, Baseball) — $129.2 million
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LeBron James (USA, Basketball) — $128.7 million
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Karim Benzema (France, Football) — $115 million
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Stephen Curry (USA, Basketball) — $105.4 million
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Shohei Ohtani (Japan, Baseball) — $102.5 million
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Kevin Durant (USA, Basketball) — $100.8 million
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Jon Rahm (Spain, Golf) — $100.7 million
