Cristiano Ronaldo has once again claimed the top spot in Forbes’ list of the highest earning footballers for 2025. This marks his third consecutive year at the summit and fifth overall time leading the prestigious ranking.
According to Forbes, Ronaldo increased his income by $15 million this year, reaching a jaw-dropping $275 million. This is the second-highest figure ever recorded in the list’s history, trailing only behind Floyd Mayweather’s boxing earnings in 2015 and 2018.
Off-Field Success Drives Ronaldo’s Record Earnings
Since joining Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia in 2022, Ronaldo has seen a major surge in earnings from endorsements and sponsorships. His immense social media presence, with over 939 million followers, has made him a favorite among top brands worldwide. This off-the-field success has played a massive role in his dominance among the highest earning footballers.
Other Top Names in the 2025 Earnings List
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry secured second place, while British boxing champion Tyson Fury came in third. Football legend Lionel Messi dropped to the fifth position this year.
Top 10 Highest Earning Athletes of 2025
Here’s the full list of the world’s top-paid athletes in 2025:
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Football) – $275 million
- Stephen Curry (Basketball) – $156 million
- Tyson Fury (Boxing) – $146 million
- Dak Prescott (American Football) – $137 million
- Lionel Messi (Football) – $135 million
- LeBron James (Basketball) – $133.8 million
- Juan Soto (Baseball) – $114 million
- Karim Benzema (Football) – $104 million
- Shohei Ohtani (Baseball) – $102.5 million
- Kevin Durant (Basketball) – $101.4 million
Footballers Still Among the Richest Athletes
The presence of Ronaldo, Messi, and Benzema in the top 10 shows that football remains a top-paying sport globally. Their influence both on and off the pitch continues to solidify their spots among the highest earning footballers of the year.
