Cristiano Ronaldo enjoyed a historic 2024, and it’s fair to say he was handsomely rewarded for his efforts.
Age was no obstacle for the Portuguese icon as he became the first men’s footballer to score 900 career goals, as well as playing in a record sixth European Championship at Euro 2024.
And Ronaldo’s landmark year has now seen him record yet another impressive feat.
According to Sportico’s recent list charting the 100 highest-paid athletes in the world in 2024, the Al Nassr star was sport’s biggest earner over the 12-month period.
Ronaldo took home a staggering £208million ($260m) altogether, £172m of which came from his salary.
The final £36m was made up by endorsements, with the 40-year-old boasting deals with huge global brands including Nike and Armani, as well as having his own CR7 underwear label.
This marks the second year in a row that Ronaldo has led the annual list, whose rivals trailed him by some distance.
NBA star Steph Curry was runner-up in last year’s highest-earning sportspeople, whose overall income totalled £123m.
And while there is always plenty of debate over the leader in the ‘GOAT’ debate between Ronaldo and long-time rival Lionel Messi, things are much clearer when it comes to matters of money.
The Portugal captain towered over the Argentine here, who ranked in fourth place behind recently-retired former heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury.
In 2024, Messi raked in £108million, with his £48million Inter Miami salary dwarfed by Ronaldo’s huge wages in Saudi Arabia.
Despite this, the Barcelona great surpassed his old adversary in off-field earnings, taking home £60million in endorsements last year.
Rounding off the top five is basketball superstar LeBron James, whose £106.6m fortune consisted of £68m in brand deals, in comparison to his £38.5m takings with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Footballers dominated in sport’s best-paid athletes, with five players ranking in the top 10 in this category.
In sixth place was Brazilian superstar Neymar, with a combined £106.4m in earnings in the previous year.
Despite enduring an injury-hit time with former side Al Hilal, the 32-year-old, who recently returned to first club Santos, earned £86.3m on his Saudi contract, with an additional £19.9m in sponsorshop.
Neymar was joined by Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe among football’s other leading earners, who came in at eighth and ninth respectively, behind boxing’s Oleksandr Usyk (97.6m).
Benzema’s £92.8m earnings were largely made possibly thanks to his lucrative deal with Al Ittihad, which makes up £86.3m of this figure.
AFPNeymar sealed an emotional return to Santos this month, 12 years after departing the club for the first time[/caption]
Meanwhile Kylian Mbappe is just behind with earnings of £88million following his move from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid last summer.
Completing the top ten 2024’s highest-paid athletes is Spanish golfer Jon Rahm, having brought home £84.6m last year.
The two-time major winner previously ranked second among sport’s biggest earners in 2023, with a considerable amount of his wealth provided by his eye-watering LIV Golf salary.
In 2024, this accounted for £68.6m of his takings, while he pocketed an additional £16m away from the golf course in endorsements.
Highest-paid athletes in 2024
- Cristiano Ronaldo – Football – £260m
- Steph Curry – Basketball – £123m
- Tyson Fury – Boxing – £117.6m
- Lionel Messi – Football – £108m
- LeBron James – Basketball – £106.6m
- Neymar – Football – £106.4m
- Oleksandr Usyk – Boxing – £97.6m
- Karim Benzema – Football – £92.8m
- Kylian Mbappe – Football – £88m
- Jon Rahm – Golf – £84.6m