Forbes: Ronaldo Surpasses Lionel Messi
Former Manchester United and Real Madrid soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo was on Wednesday, 4th April 2023 listed by Forbes as the world’s highest paid athlete.
According to Forbes’ analysis, the now Al- Nassr soccer player had his earnings rise after joining the Arabian team in 2022 signing a contract that is set to end, 2025.
Before leaving Manchester United, Ronaldo earned $136 million — $46 million on-field and $90 million off-field. However, after parting ways with Manchester United, his annual salary shot up to $75 million where his contract has been estimated to be worth more than $219.98 million, according to The World’s 10 Highest-Paid Athletes 2023 list by Forbes.
Recently, the Portuguese soccer legendary received sponsorship from crypto exchange Binance; which pushed his off-field earnings to $90 million over the last 12 months.
Closely according to Forbes’ analysis; PSG star Lionel Messi became second with an earning of $ 130M/£ 103.9M at PSG.
The former Barcelona star and Argentina captain who is on a two- week suspension after visiting Saudi Arabia without his club’s authority consent; is set to leave PSG at the end of the summer according to his father’s claims.
Third, Kylian Mbappe, Messi’s teammate with an earning of $120m (£95.9m) as the world’s third highest paid athletes but recently, he was picked as the first player ambassador for cryptocurrency lovable game Sorare.
Forbes upon its athletes payment analysis said, on-field earning figures include all salaries, prize money and bonuses earned by the athletic in the last 12 months as off- field earnings being estimates of sponsorship deals, appearance fees, licensing income and cash returns from businesses they operate.
WORLD’S TOP 10 HIGHEST PAID ATHLETES 2023
1. Cristiano Ronaldo, football: $136m (£108.7m)
2. Lionel Messi, football: $130m (£103.9m)
3. Kylian Mbappe, football: $120m (£95.9m)
4. LeBron James, basketball: $119.5m (£95.5m)
5. Canelo Alvarez, boxing: $110m (£87.9m)
6. Dustin Johnson, golf: $107m (£85.5m)
7. Phil Mickelson, golf: $106m (£84.7m)
8. Stephen Curry, basketball: $100.4m (£80.2m)
9. Roger Federer, tennis: $95.1m (£76m)
10. Kevin Durant, basketball: $89.1m (£71.2m)
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