Cristiano Ronaldo doubles Lionel Messi’s 2025 earnings to lead highest-paid list as Neymar falls to No.30 | OneFootball

Sportico reports that Cristiano Ronaldo leads its annual highest-paid athletes list after earning $260 million (£194m) in 2025. The Al-Nassr forward made double Lionel Messi’s $130m (£97m) total, with Neymar tumbling down the standings and 13 footballers making the top 100.

Ronaldo, whose vast social media reach boosts his off-pitch income, tops the list for the third straight year. His Al-Nassr deal is said to be worth $200m (£149m) per year, with a further $60m (£45m) from other ventures.

He has earned at least $100m (£74m) in nine successive years, and this is the third time he has gone beyond $200m.

Messi sits third on the chart. The World Cup winner generated $130m across 2025 and has a new Inter Miami deal through 2028, alongside work with adidas.

Ronaldo is working on fresh terms at Al-Nassr, with his agreement extended to summer 2027. It has been suggested the 40-year-old could play on beyond that, and both he and Messi are being tipped to feature at this summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Neymar should also be at the tournament if he proves his fitness to Carlo Ancelotti. After returning home early in 2025 following the termination of his Al-Hilal deal, he earns far less in South America and has fallen to No.30, almost $50m (£37m) down year on year.

Source: Goal.com