Cristiano Ronaldo has once again topped the list of the highest-paid athletes in the world, earning an impressive £208 million in 2024.
This marks the second year in a row that the superstar footballer has held the top spot, with most of his earnings coming from his £175 million contract with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, plus additional money from endorsements.
Ronaldo’s earnings far outpaced those of other athletes. The second-highest-paid athlete of 2024, NBA star Stephen Curry, earned £123 million, including £80 million from endorsements. Despite being behind Ronaldo in total earnings, Curry made the most from endorsements, which boosted his position.
Other footballers who made the top 10 include Lionel Messi, Neymar, Karim Benzema, and Kylian Mbappe.
Boxer Tyson Fury and NBA stars like LeBron James and Neymar also ranked highly. Here’s a look at the top 10 highest-paid athletes for 2024:
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Football) – £208m
- Stephen Curry (NBA) – £123m
- Tyson Fury (Boxing) – £117m
- Lionel Messi (Football) – £108m
- LeBron James (NBA) – £106m
- Neymar (Football) – £106m
- Oleksandr Usyk (Boxing) – £97.7m
- Karim Benzema (Football) – £92.9m
- Kylian Mbappe (Football) – £88.1m
- Jon Rahm (Golf) – £84.7m
Ronaldo’s dominance in the rankings looks set to continue, with reports suggesting he could extend his contract with Al-Nassr, possibly earning £167.9 million in 2025.
The list highlights the growing financial power of sports stars across various fields, with athletes from football, basketball, boxing, and golf leading the way.
