Top-Earning Athletes of 2023: Cristiano Ronaldo Leads, Lionel Messi surprises in third place

The list of the highest-earning athletes in 2023 has been revealed, showcasing an unexpected position for Lionel Messi. On Wednesday, the American website Sportico unveiled the top 100 highest-paid athletes of the past year, considering both on-field salaries and endorsement deals.

Unsurprisingly, Cristiano Ronaldo claims the top spot for the second consecutive year, earning a total of $275 million in 2023, with $215 million coming from his salary at Al-Nassr and $60 million from endorsement deals with companies like Nike, Giorgio Armani, and Tag Heuer.

Spanish golfer Jon Rahm secured the second position with impressive earnings of $203 million.

Lionel Messi, on the other hand, settled for the third spot. Although the 36-year-old’s earnings were approximately three times less than Ronaldo’s, the World Cup champion garnered $65 million through numerous advertising appearances, resulting in a total of $130 million.

The ranking continues with LeBron James, Kylian Mbappé, Neymar, and Stephen Curry rounding up the top earners. The top 10 highest-paid athletes in 2023 are as follows:

1. Cristiano Ronaldo – Footballer: $275 million
2. Jon Rahm – Golfer: $203 million
3. Lionel Messi – Footballer: $130 million
4. LeBron James – Basketball player: $125.7 million
5. Kylian Mbappé – Footballer: $125 million
6. Neymar – Footballer: $121 million
7. Stephen Curry – Basketball player: $98.9 million
8. Giannis Antetokounmpo – Basketball player: $88.4 million
9. Kevin Durant – Basketball player: $86.9 million
10. Patrick Mahomes – American Football: $84.3 million.