Highest earners in sports: Cristiano Ronaldo leads with over $100m, Messi 4th [Full list]

Footballing legend, Cristiano Ronaldo has earned $100 million more than Stephen Curry who is second-placed on the newly released list of the top 100 highest-paid athletes in the world.

The Portuguese superstar is unsurprisingly occupying the top position in the list, which was published by Sportico.

Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in 2023 – a deal that put him top of the list of highest earners in sports.

He joined the Saudi Pro League side on a free transfer that would see him receive approximately $215 million per annum, tax-free.

Now 40, if he extends his contract and remains Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo is expected to retain his spot at the top of the list.

The Portugal international also earns another $45 million in endorsements and this, according to the report, sets the former Manchester United man up at an impressive total of $260 million per annum.

Legendary basketball point guard, Curry earns well over $100 million less than that with his $153.8 million in total.

Heavyweight boxer, Tyson Fury is in the third position with $147 million, with Lionel Messi in fourth place with $135 million.

Others are LeBron James, fifth with $133.2m, Neymar sixth with $133 million, Oleksandr Usyk, $122 million, Karim Benzema $116 million, and Kylian Mbappe $110 million. In 10th, Jon Rahm earned $105.8 million.

Erling Haaland is in 24th place with $70 million. Mohamed Salah and Vinicius Jr are both 38th with $55 million each. Riyad Mahrez is 44th with $52 million, Sadio Mane 67th with $45.5 million and Harry Kane 81st with $42 million.

The last footballer is Kevin De Bruyne, who sits in 89th with $39.5 million.