25 May,2026 09:33 AM IST | Mumbai | A Correspondent
Cristiano Ronaldo. Pic/Ronaldo’s Instagram; (right) Lionel Messi. Pic/Messi’s Instagram
Portugal and Al Nassr superstar forward Cristiano Ronaldo topped the Forbes list of highest-paid sports players for the fourth year in a row.
Ronaldo, 41, who will lead his nation at the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, beginning on June 11, has raked in £223mn (approx Rs 2871cr) in the last 12 months. His earnings in the last one year equalled the record set by US boxing great Floyd Mayweather Jr in 2015.
The largest chunk of Ronaldo's income stems from his £175mn (approx Rs 2253cr) salary paid by the Saudi Arabian club he plays for. The other £48mn (approx Rs 618cr) is through brand endorsements (Nike, Armani, etc) and other business ventures such as CR7 apparel and Pestana CR7 Hotels among others.
Second in the list is US boxer Canelo Alvarez who earned £126mn (approx Rs 1622cr), while Ronaldo's long-time rival and Argentine World Cup-winner Lionel Messi is third on the list, earning £104mn (approx Rs 1339cr) over the past 12 months.
