Cristiano Ronaldo tops the ranking of the richest athletes: How much he earns besides Messi.

According to The Sun: Last year, Cristiano Ronaldo led the earnings of athletes, earning almost twice as much as his legendary rival Lionel Messi.

According to information from bestbettingsitesoffers.co.uk, the two have reached the top 3 of the richest athletes in the world.

Cristiano Ronaldo's contract in Saudi Arabia has catapulted him to first place Getty Lionel Messi secured third place due to his contract with Inter Miami Getty

Football and basketball dominate the top 10, with only two representatives from other sports making the list.

The ranking consists of salaries and off-field earnings to determine who actually earns the most in sports.

10) Lamar Jackson – £74.37 million

The quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens, Lamar Jackson, led the earnings among NFL athletes and made it into the top ten. The 28-year-old athlete signed a five-year contract in summer 2023, with an annual income that rises over time. He is a two-time MVP and one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in history.

AP

9) Stephen Curry – £75.38 million

Stephen Curry, player of the Golden State Warriors, takes ninth place, earning just slightly more than his colleague Jackson. His ability to execute three-point shots precisely has set a new trend in the game and increased the importance of long shots. Despite approaching the end of his career, he received a contract extension until the 2026/27 season last year.

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His earnings are also supported by a lucrative contract with Under Armour, which includes company shares.

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8) Karim Benzema – £78.44 million

The French forward Karim Benzema is the first footballer on the list. During his remarkable career at Real Madrid, he has become one of the best forwards of his generation, and his place in the top ten is due to Saudi Arabia's large investments in football. His move to Al-Ittihad in 2023 was accompanied by a massive multi-billion contract over three years.

AFP

7) Neymar – £79.92 million

Neymar is considered the third-best footballer of his generation and takes seventh place thanks to significant earnings. But his path to this position has not been easy — most of his earnings last year came from a club where he barely played. After his move from PSG to Al-Hilal, Neymar faced injury problems and only recently returned to Brazil, where he joined his youth club Santos.

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6) Kylian Mbappé – £81.40 million

Kylian Mbappé is a French phenomenon and is considered the best player in world football. His place in the top ten is not surprising, given the huge signing bonus and endorsement deals. Despite a lower salary when moving to Real, his earnings are still considerable and he has significant growth potential in one of the most famous clubs in history.

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5) Giannis Antetokounmpo – £82.14 million

The Greek monster Giannis Antetokounmpo earns over £80 million per year, more than half of which comes from sponsorship deals, including his shoe line with Nike. He remains one of the best players in history and continues to dominate on the court after becoming an All-Star last year and playing for the Milwaukee Bucks.

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4) LeBron James – £94.87 million

LeBron James, one of the greatest sports icons of the past two decades, completes the basketball representation on this list. 'King James' was drafted first overall in 2003 and has shown high performance in the NBA ever since. Last season, he signed a £40 million contract to continue his career in his 23rd year – a record for the NBA.

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3) Lionel Messi – £99.90 million

Lionel Messi is undoubtedly the best footballer of all time, known for his outstanding career at Barcelona. After a less prominent time at PSG, he moved to Inter Miami, a club partly owned by David Beckham. Messi and Giannis are the only athletes on the list who earn more off the field than on it.

Alamy

2) Jon Rahm – £161.32 million

Jon Rahm is the only golfer on this list, surprising many by earning a significant £61.42 million more than Messi. This is due to sudden investments from Saudi Arabia in the sport, and Rahm is a star of the LIV golf project. Most of his earnings come from competitions, including LIV Golf and PGA Tour.

AFP

1) Cristiano Ronaldo – £192.40 million

Cristiano Ronaldo tops the ranking due to his massive salary at Al-Nassr. Most of his earnings come from signing a new contract in June, which raised his salary to £488,000 per day. As one of the greatest football players in history, Ronaldo holds records for most goals in the Champions League and the total number of goals at international level since his debut in 2002. His achievements at United, Real, and Juventus have solidified his position in football as he continues to approach the 1000 goals mark in his career.

Reuters