Cristiano Ronaldo tops Forbes's list of highest-paid footballers

By the end of 2024, Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for the Saudi club Al-Nassr, has become the highest-paid footballer.

Lionel Messi has secured the second spot overall, with an estimated pre-tax income of $135 million, excluding agent fees, Caliber.Az reports per Forbes.

This includes an impressive $75 million from off-field ventures, the highest figure in football. However, for the second consecutive year, he remains behind his long-time rival.

Ronaldo, who made headlines by joining Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr in January 2023, leads the list for the sixth time in the past decade.

The Portuguese forward is expected to earn $220 million on the field this season, a figure that reportedly includes financial incentives from commercial deals brokered through his club in addition to his regular salary. 

His total earnings of $285 million—which include an estimated $65 million from off-field activities—set a new record in football, surpassing the $260 million he earned the previous year.

Among all athletes tracked by Forbes since 1990, only boxer Floyd Mayweather has achieved higher earnings in a single year while still active in his sport. Ronaldo’s record-breaking income cements his status as one of the highest-paid athletes in history.

By Aghakazim Guliyev