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Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi dominate the Forbes list of highest-paid athletes despite being at the end of their careers

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Sherwin Shaju | Last updated 5/17/24

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi may very well be in the twilight years of their illustrious careers. However, age has never been a factor for the two legends of the game as proven time and again through spectacular finishes and mind-blowing efforts. Their legacy spans much beyond the pitch, through endorsements, sponsorships and above all, the respect they demand.

In a recent list published by Forbes, the Portuguese superstar once again topped the list for the highest-paid athlete on the planet. Despite moving from Real Madrid to Juventus to Manchester United and finally to Al-Nassr, one thing has remained constant – his massive pay cheque. The Al-Nassr No.7 has earned a massive $260 million in the last year, comfortably placing him at the top of the list.

While Ronaldo earns $200 million directly from his Al-Nassr contract, the remaining $60 million comes from endorsements and partnerships with Nike, Binance and Herbalife.

Cristiano Ronaldo tops Forbes' highest-paid athlete list for the fourth time

Five of the top ten are footballers pic.twitter.com/ob4mGYcNbs
— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 16, 2024

Lionel Messi is third on the list of highest paid stars, with the Argentine earning a total of $135 million. The Inter Miami No.10 earns $65 million for his performances on the pitch, while off-field endorsements contribute to the remaining $70 million.

Lionel Messi, Karim Benzema, Neymar Jr. and more – all about the footballers in the top 10 highest-paid athletes

From mind-blowing contracts to mammoth deals in endorsements and sponsorships, footballers at the top of the game earn some of the most unreal amounts among all athletes. Starting with Cristiano Ronaldo in first and Lionel Messi in third, there are three more footballers that made it to the top ten.

At sixth is Paris Saint-Germain captain and soon-to-be Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe. The Frenchman’s contract at PSG combined with his endorsements earned him a handsome $110 million in the last 12 months.

Former PSG and current Al-Hilal star Neymar Jr. is close behind with an overall income of $108 million. His extravagant Al-Hilal contract which includes a private jet and mansion is one of the most surprising in the world.

2023’s highest-paid footballers in the world, per Forbes

1. Ronaldo ($260m)
2. Messi ($135m)
3. Neymar ($112m)
4. Mbappé ($110m)
5. Benzema ($106m)
6. Haaland ($58m)
7. Salah ($53m)
8. Mané ($52m)
9. De Bruyne ($39m)
10. Kane ($36m) pic.twitter.com/CJkNrY4WTt
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 14, 2023

In eighth position is Karim Benzema, the Al-Ittihad striker. Despite having significant troubles with the club management, Benzema’s salary of $100 million remains unaffected.

He also pockets an extra $6 million from sponsorships and other deals. Benzema’s first season in Saudi was plagued by injuries. He is currently in recovery in Spain.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

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