CR7 on top as Benzema ahead of Mbappé in 2025 rich list | OneFootball

CR7 tops the 2025 global earnings list as some surprise names feature in the top 100. According to Sportico, Cristiano Ronaldo leads on $260m (€249.4m).

At 40, the Al-Nassr forward sits ahead of Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez on $137m (€118.4m) and his long-time rival Lionel Messi on $130m (€112m).

Three French athletes make the list, led by Karim Benzema. The Al-Ittihad striker ranks sixth on $115m (€99m). Kylian Mbappé drops out of the top 10 compared with 2024, placed 12th on $95m (€81.9m).

Rudy Gobert is the third Frenchman, earning $39m (€33.6m) with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and sits 84th.

Juan Soto of the New York Mets is fourth with $129.2m (€111.6m), while NBA star LeBron James is fifth on $128.7m (€111.2m).

Lewis Hamilton, now with Ferrari in Formula 1, is the leading driver on $100m (€86m), narrowly ahead of Mbappé. In all, 11 athletes clear $100m in 2025, comprising three footballers, three basketball players, one F1 driver, one golfer, one boxer and two baseball players.

Source: Le Progres