Ronaldo rules, LeBron slides, and Messi overtaken by surprise star on 2025 sports rich list

Cristiano Ronaldo and Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez are ahead of Lionel Messi in the race to be the world’s highest-paid athletes, according to Sportico’s latest update of its annual rankings.

The sports business outlet released a refreshed list of the 100 highest-earning athletes worldwide, with Ronaldo once again sitting comfortably at the top.

Ronaldo’s dominance on and off the field

Ronaldo has become a defining figure in modern sports, not only for what he does on the field but also for the financial empire he continues to build away from it. The Portuguese superstar keeps breaking records during matches, while off the pitch he sets the standard financially. For the third straight year, Sportico ranks Ronaldo as the world’s highest-paid athlete, reinforcing his status as a global sporting icon.

Canelo surges into second place

One of the biggest surprises on the updated list comes right behind Ronaldo. Mexican boxing star Canelo Álvarez ranks second, leapfrogging several global superstars, including Messi.

Canelo had an unusual 2025 by his standards, highlighted by a high-profile fight against American boxer Terence Crawford. While Canelo did not emerge victorious, the guaranteed purse from the bout was enough to propel him into the upper tier of earners for the year. That payday places him firmly among the sport’s financial elite.

Messi climbs despite being passed

Argentinian World Cup winner Messi also saw movement compared with last year’s rankings. He climbed from fourth to third overall, finishing just behind Canelo and Ronaldo on a list that features significant changes at the very top.

Juan Soto cracks the top four

Another notable addition near the top is Dominican baseball star Juan Soto. After securing a massive contract with the New York Mets, Soto slots into fourth place overall. His rise pushed NBA legend LeBron James down to fifth, making James the highest-ranked American athlete on the list.

Sportico’s 10 highest-paid athletes of 2025

1. Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, soccer, $260 million
2. Canelo Álvarez, Mexico, boxing, $137 million
3. Lionel Messi, Argentina, soccer, $130 million
4. Juan Soto, Dominican Republic, baseball, $129.2 million
5. LeBron James, United States, basketball, $128.7 million
6. Karim Benzema, France, soccer, $115 million
7. Stephen Curry, United States, basketball, $105.4 million
8. Shohei Ohtani, Japan, baseball, $102.5 million
9. Kevin Durant, United States, basketball, $100.8 million
10. Jon Rahm, Spain, golf, $100.7 million

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