Ronaldo becomes world’s best-paid athlete after Saudi move
04-May-2023PSG forward Lionel Messi was next on the Forbes list, while club teammate and France captain Kylian Mbappe was third.
Cristiano Ronaldo has become the world’s highest-paid athlete for the first time since 2017 after his move to Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr nearly doubled his annual playing salary, while Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) duo Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe round off the top three, according to Forbes magazine.
Ronaldo, who joined the Saudi football club on a deal until 2025 after leaving Manchester United last year, earned $136m, with Forbes saying his annual playing salary went up to an estimated $75m.
Ronaldo’s contract has been estimated by media to be worth more than 200 million euros ($220m).
PSG forward Messi, 35, was next on the list after bringing home a combined $130m while club teammate and France captain Mbappe – the youngest on the list at 24 – earned $120m to sit third.
PSG are owned by Qatar Sports Investments.
