Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest-paid footballer in the world in 2023, earning more than Lionel Messi and Neymar in the last 12 months, according to Forbes.
Ronaldo, who Forbes also lists as the highest-paid athlete in all of sports, tops the list with total expected earnings of $260 million.
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (US)
The Portuguese striker’s contract with Saudi club Al Nassr, who he joined from Manchester United in January, is believed to be worth $200 million, while his endorsement portfolio, which includes the likes of Nike and Jacob & Co, is estimated at $60 million per year. according to Forbes.
Lionel Messi was ranked second on the list with expected total earnings of $135 million, boosted by his move to MLS club Inter Miami.
Messi is the first MLS player to make the top 10 since David Beckham in 2012.
Brazilian forward Neymar rounds out the top three with $112 million in total earnings after signing for Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League in August.
The influence of the Saudi Pro League is clearly visible in the Forbes list with four players (Ronaldo, Neymar, Karim Benzema and Sadio Mané) among the top 11 players in the world.
According to Forbes, the combined earnings of the four Saudi Pro League players represent more than half of the $995 million collectively earned by the 11 players on the rich list.
Kylian Mbappé comes second in the rankings, just behind his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Neymar, with total earnings of $110 million.
Manchester City’s Erling Haaland was the highest paid Premier League player with a total annual income higher than those of Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and teammate Kevin De Bruyne.
Forbes said its on-field revenue figures include all awards, salaries and bonuses earned in the past 12 months, while off-field revenues are an estimate of sponsorship deals, appearance fees, license and cash returns from the businesses they operate.
Forbes list of the 11 highest paid footballers in 2023
1. Cristiano Ronaldo ($260 million)
2. Lionel Messi ($135 million)
3. Neymar ($112 million)
4. Kylian Mbappé ($110 million)
5. Karim Benzema ($106 million)
6. Erling Haaland ($58 million)
7. Mohamed Salah ($53 million)
8. Sadio Mané ($52 million)
9. Kevin De Bruyne ($39 million)
10. Harry Kane ($36 million)
11. Robert Lewandowski ($34 million)
