Cristiano Ronaldo’s pockets getting deeper according to Forbes

Cristiano Ronaldo remains a one-man business phenomenon that knows no recession. The 41-year-old Portuguese star tops Forbes’ list of the ten highest-paid athletes for the fourth consecutive season—and sixth overall—with estimated earnings of $300 million (approximately €263 million) before taxes and commissions.

This figure, which breaks down $235 million from his contract with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr and another $65 million from sponsorships, licensing, and other business ventures, equals the all-time high set by Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2015. CR7 thus ties with Michael Jordan for the most top spots on the all-time list (six each), surpassed only by Tiger Woods’ eleven.

Mexican boxer Canelo Álvarez (170 million) and striker Leo Messi also feature. The 38-year-old Argentine from Inter Miami occupies third place with 140 million, split equally between his on-field earnings (70 million) and his lucrative commercial deals (70 million). This statistic illustrates his stature in MLS: his salary of 28.3 million alone exceeds the entire budget of 28 of the league’s 29 franchises.

The most prominent name for Spanish readers is Jon Rahm, seventh with 107 million, almost all of which comes from his lucrative contract with LIV Golf, the circuit financed by Saudi Arabia. The 31-year-old Basque golfer is still waiting for clarity on the league’s future after the Saudi Public Investment Fund announced it will cease funding it beyond this season.

Indeed, the flow of petrodollars continues to dictate the pace of the list. Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, Karim Benzema’s Al-Hilal (eighth, $104 million), and Canelo’s deals with Riyadh Season are boosting the earnings of several of the biggest active stars. However, Saudi Arabia’s potential withdrawal from LIV Golf introduces uncertainty into Rahm’s financial horizon, who admitted this month that he doesn’t see “many options” for his contract.

Meanwhile, the Top 10 has reached a record combined revenue of $1.4 billion, more than double what it was a decade ago. The money, for now, keeps flowing. But Saudi Arabia’s financial muscle no longer seems inexhaustible.

The ranking reveals another headline: experience still reigns supreme. The average age of the ten highest-paid athletes is 37, the highest since Forbes began publishing the ranking.

Along with Cristiano Ronaldo, Lewis Hamilton (tenth, $100 million) and LeBron James (fourth, $137.8 million) are both 41; only Shohei Ohtani (fifth, $127.6 million) and Rahm are under 35. In the economics of sports, time no longer penalizes: it multiplies the value of major brands.

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