Fourth on the list is baseball star Juan Soto with £96mn (approximately Rs 1163 crore), followed by basketball legend LeBron James with £95.9mn (approximately Rs 1162 crore)
Cristiano Ronaldo
Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo emerges highest-paid athlete in 2025 with £194mn (approximately Rs 2350cr), beating rival Lionel Messi by far (£97mn; approximately Rs 1175 cr)
The indefatigable 40-year-old football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo topped the list of highest-paid athletes in 2025, dwarfing the likes of rival Lionel Messi and boxing star Canelo Alvarez in the process.
According to sports media website Sportico, the Portuguese great raked in a whopping £194 million (approximately Rs 2350 crore) in the last year. His wages at Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr amounted to £149 mn (approximately Rs 1805 crore), with an additional £45mn (approximately Rs 545 crore) coming through brand endorsements.
In second place stands Mexico’s Alvarez with £102mn (approximately Rs 1235 crore), whose two blockbuster fights with William Scull and Terence Crawford saw him earn £93mn (approximately Rs 1126 crore), with the remaining £9mn (approximately R109 crore) secured via brand deals.
Next comes Argentina football superstar Messi at £97mn (approximately Rs 1175 crore). Interestingly, £52mn (approximately Rs 630 crore) of Messi’s income from the last year came via endorsements, the rest of the £45mn (approximately Rs 545 crore) was the salary paid to him by Inter Miami.
Fourth on the list is baseball star Juan Soto with £96mn (approximately Rs 1163 crore), followed by basketball legend LeBron James with £95.9mn (approximately Rs 1162 crore).
Top Five
Highest-Paid Athletes (2025)
£ Cristiano Ronaldo (footballer) - £194mn (approximately Rs 2350cr)
£ Canelo Alvarez (boxer) - £102mn (approximately Rs 1235cr)
£ Lionel Messi (footballer) - £97mn (approximately Rs 1175cr)
£ Juan Soto (baseballer) - £96mn (approximately Rs 1163cr)
£ LeBron James (Basketballer) - £95.9mn (approximately Rs 1162cr)
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