Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has retained his position as the highest-paid athlete in the world for the third consecutive year while Argentine World Cup winner Lionel Messi has dropped two spots in the latest rankings.
On Friday (May 16), Forbes the renowned U.S.-based business and finance magazine, published its list of the world’s top 10 highest-earning athletes over the past 12 months.
Since joining Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr, Ronaldo’s estimated earnings have soared to $275 million — equivalent to approximately 3,339.82 crore Bangladeshi taka. His income has increased by $15 million compared to last year, thanks largely to lucrative off-field sponsorships and endorsement deals. Ronaldo’s massive following on social media platforms continues to play a significant role in his marketability, with a staggering 939 million followers as of May.
Golden State Warriors’ basketball star Stephen Curry has claimed the second spot with earnings of $156 million. Boxer Tyson Fury ranks third, earning $146 million. American football quarterback Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys follows in fourth place with $137 million.
Messi, who plays for Major League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami is in fifth place with an unchanged income of $135 million from last year. NBA legend LeBron James is sixth, with $133.8 million in earnings.
Seventh place goes to baseball star Juan Soto of the New York Mets, who earned $114 million. French striker Karim Benzema, currently playing for Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, is eighth with $104 million.
Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers is ranked ninth with $102.5 million while fellow basketball player Kevin Durant rounds out the top ten with $101.4 million in total earnings.
These figures reflect not only on-field performance but also the increasing impact of off-field business ventures, endorsements, and social influence in shaping modern athletic wealth.
UA / TDS
