Forbes announced the list of the top ten highest-paid athletes in 2023, with well-known footballers holding the top three spots as Cristiano Ronaldo led the way, with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe of PSG finishing second and third, respectively.
Following his acrimonious departure from Manchester United last year, Ronaldo signed with Al-Nassr for a staggering annual fee of $46 million, with an additional $90 million coming from endorsements, licencing income, and other business ventures, making him the highest-earning athlete in 2023.
Cristiano Ronaldo highest-paid athlete of 2023
Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United in November and joined Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr in January, increasing his annual playing wage to an estimated $75 million and creating fresh marketing opportunities in his new home (Forbes’ on-field estimate combines his two contracts for this season and compensates for his brief absence.)
Rumours are ripe that he may try to return to Europe this summer, but in the meanwhile, the pay increase has him atop the athlete earnings list for the first time since 2017, and the third time overall, with his $136 million total setting an all-time high for a football player. Brands can’t get enough of Cristiano Ronaldo as well and his vast fan base—850 million followers on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, more than any other athlete on the planet.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s arch-rival Lionel Messi came in second with a close $130 million, garnering $65 million on and off the pitch. He left Barcelona in 2021 to join PSG, where he continues to earn exorbitant pay, but he also benefits from rich sponsorship deals with Adidas, Budweiser, and PepsiCo. The Argentine has also struck a deal with Socios, a blockchain-based fan platform, which is expected to pay him $20 million every year.
Messi’s future is up in the air, with rumours swirling that he could return to Barcelona, or join Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia, or perhaps join Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. Regardless, his bank account looks be secure. After leading Argentina to World Cup success in December, the opportunities should keep coming for the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner. In October, he also launched ‘Play Time’, an investing firm.
His earnings total is the same as in the previous two editions of the list, and he has a long list of lucrative endorsements as evident. Messi’s PSG teammate Mbappe comes third, as he reportedly earns $120 million, the majority of which is earned on the pitch, more than any other footballer on the planet. He is also the only athlete under the age of 30 in the top ten.
Last year, the 24-year-old signed a record contract extension with PSG, earning more than a million dollars per week and becoming a player ambassador for Sorare, a cryptocurrency-based fantasy game. Forbes’ list also includes basketball superstar LeBron James ($119.5 million), boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez ($110 million), golf duo Dustin Johnson ($107 million) and Phil Mickelson ($106 million), NBA superstar Stephen Curry ($100.4 million), tennis legend Roger Federer ($95.1 million), and basketball superstar Kevin Durant ($89.1 million).