ROME (ITALPRESS) – Cristiano Ronaldo remains the world’s highest-paid athlete for the third consecutive year. This is confirmed by the latest annual report published by “Sportico,” which estimates the Portuguese striker’s total earnings of €224 million, including salaries, bonuses, and commercial revenues.
This figure not only reaffirms CR7’s centrality in the global sports landscape but also further strengthens his status as an unprecedented international brand. The real surprise in the ranking, however, comes in second place, occupied by Mexican boxer Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez, who earned €118 million.
This significant figure, though far behind the Portuguese star, highlights how even individual sports can generate highly profitable economic ecosystems. Specifically, the majority of Ronaldo and Canelo’s earnings still come from salaries and prize money, but sponsorships and commercial deals remain strategic. F
or Cristiano Ronaldo, these activities are worth approximately €52 million, while for the Mexican boxer, they stand at €10 million. Analyzing the ranking as a whole, significant structural trends emerge. The NBA dominates with 40 athletes in the top 100, led by LeBron James (€110 million) and Stephen Curry (€90 million). The NFL comes in second, with 22 of the highest-paid players in the world.
Also noteworthy is the entry of two MLB players into the top ten: Juan Soto (€111 million) and Shohei Ohtani (€88 million), confirming baseball’s growing commercial appeal globally.
The impact of Saudi contracts is also significant: five athletes playing in Saudi Arabia appear in the top 20, with Karim Benzema sixth at €99 million. Soccer has 13 players in the top 100, the highest ever recorded for the sport, with five athletes in the top 20. Two Brazilians also appear: Neymar, 30th with €52 million, and Vinícius Jr., 34th with €50 million.
Overall, the 100 athletes selected by Sportico come from eight disciplines and 28 countries, with a combined net worth of €5.2 billion. Of this, €4 billion comes from salaries, bonuses, and prizes, while €1.2 billion comes from sponsorships and other sources of income.
-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).
