09 February 2024 , 04:00
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Cristiano Ronaldo has topped the list of the highest-paid athletes in the world thanks to his £175million per year wages at Al-Nassr.
Ronaldo is one of football's biggest superstars and has earned a massive wage ever since moving to the Saudi Pro League last January. The Portugal captain has been vastly rewarded for his decision to end his career in the Middle East.
It is not only his wages that have shot him to the top of the new list, produced by Sportico, though. Ronaldo also has a range of sponsorship deals, including with Nike, Armani and Tag Heuer.
As a result, he has earned a huge £218m over the past year, putting him top of the wealth tree. Ronaldo earns £57m more than than the man second on the list, Europe's Ryder Cup hero Jon Rahm.
The Spaniard recently joined the LIV Golf tour, having won The Masters and the Ryder Cup over the course of 2023. Those victories ensured he took home £161m in earnings and claim second on the list.
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Ronaldo's fiercest rival Lionel Messi was beaten to second by Rahm, with the World Cup winner in third place. His endorsements, on top of his £52m per year salary, saw him take home £103m in total last year.
In fourth is the face of the NBA LeBron James, who was paid around £36m by the LA Lakers. His endorsement deals have shot him into the top five, taking him to a yearly earning of just more than £99m.
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Lionel Messi comes in at third on the list (AFP via Getty Images)Rounding off the top five is a third footballer in PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe, who is set to join Real Madrid in the summer. He was paid around £80m by the Ligue 1 giants, with his endoresement deals taking his overall earnings to £99.2m.
His former PSG team-mate Neymar is in at sixth, having moved out to Saudi Arabia last summer. The Brazilian is currently sidelined for the long-term, though did earn £96m over last year.
The bottom half of the top 10 is dominated by NBA stars. Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors heads that group having earned £78.5m to go in a number seven on the list.
He is ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (£70m) and the Phoenix Suns' Kevin Durant (£68m). Rounding out the top 10 is Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who is preparing to feature in the Superbowl on Sunday.
Mahomes earned around £67m over the last year, to be the NFL's highest-paid player. The first Premier League player on the list is Erling Haaland, with the Manchester City star in at 18 after earning £50m last year.