This year, Cristiano Ronaldo has done more than just find the back of the net on the field: he has firmly cemented his status as sport’s most lucrative athlete.
According to the latest figures from Forbes, Ronaldo pulled in an estimated $275 million in the 12-month period ending May 2025, a total that eclipses every other name in global sport.
The Portuguese forward’s remarkable haul is built on two core pillars: his contract with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia and a sprawling array of endorsement deals that span the globe.
On the pitch, his guaranteed income reached around $225 million, with endorsements contributing roughly $50 million.
Why Ronaldo still dominates
Despite being in his early forties, Ronaldo remains not only active but financially dominant. His decision to join Al-Nassr back in 2023 has paid off not just in sporting terms but in commercial value too.
What sets him apart is the scale of his brand, which generates huge media attention in parallel with his sporting output.
Forbes highlights his social-media reach and influence as key components of his earning power.
To put his dominance into perspective: NBA superstar Stephen Curry follows in second place on Forbes’ overall athlete earnings list with approximately $156 million, meaning Ronaldo pulled in nearly $120 million more.
His haul also means that Ronaldo once again heads the smaller roster of footballers who crack the very top tier of sports earnings.
For example, Lionel Messi is estimated to have earned around $135 million during the same window, impressive in its own right but still far from Ronaldo‘s mark.
From a wider angle, Ronaldo‘s ongoing dominance signals how football’s financial peak continues to rise. Salary and endorsement deals have reached heights that would once have been considered unimaginable in the sport.
What makes this story more compelling is the enduring nature of his commercial appeal. Though his peak athletic years may lie in the past, his brand remains extraordinarily valuable.
Analysts say the combination of on-field legacy, social-media clout and global reach allows him to monetize in ways younger athletes still struggle to match.
Moreover, his financial surge aligns with a broader shift: elite footballers are not only paid for their goals and appearances but also for their ability to draw audiences, sell products, and elevate club brands globally. In that sense, Ronaldo remains the template.
What happens next will be interesting. As Ronaldo edges toward the twilight of his playing career, the question is how his off-field earnings and brand momentum will evolve.
With contracts in Saudi Arabia, continued worldwide endorsements, and a fan base numbering in the hundreds of millions, it seems likely that he will continue to feature at the top of earnings charts for some time.
Read the full article here
