Forbes reports that as of 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo has earned more than Lionel Messi and Neymar combined in a single year of professional football.
With an estimated total of $260 million, Ronaldo topped the list and is also ranked by Forbes as the highest-paid player in any sport.
Forbes estimates that the Portugal forward’s annual earnings from endorsement deals with companies like Nike and Jacob & Co total $60 million, while his contract with Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr, which he signed from Manchester United in January, is worth $200 million.
Lionel Messi, who just signed with Major League Soccer (MLS) team Inter Miami, came in at number two on the list, with an anticipated total earnings of $135 million.
Since David Beckham in 2012, Messi is the only Major League Soccer player to crack the top 10.
Neymar, a forward from Brazil, signed with Al Hilal of the Saudi Pro League in August and has now earned a total of $112 million since August.
Four of the top 11 highest-paid players in the world (Ronaldo, Neymar, Karim Benzema, and Sadio Mané) all play in the Saudi Pro League.
Forbes estimates that the $995m earned by the 11 players on the wealthy list is split evenly between the four Saudi Pro League players who make up more than half of the list.
After Neymar of old Paris Saint-Germain, Kylian Mbappé finishes in second with total earnings of $110m.
Erling Haaland of Manchester City had the highest yearly salary in the Premier League, surpassing that of Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City.
Off the field earnings are estimated as sponsorship deals, appearance fees, licensing income, and cash returns from companies they manage, while on-field earnings comprise all prize money, salary, and bonuses received in the preceding 12 months, as stated by Forbes.
List of the highest-paid players in 2023, according to Forbes.
Cristiano Ronaldo ($260m)
Lionel Messi ($135m)
Neymar ($112m)
Kylian Mbappé ($110m)
Karim Benzema ($106m)
Erling Haaland ($58m)
Mohamed Salah ($53m)
Sadio Mané ($52m)
Kevin De Bruyne ($39m)
Harry Kane ($36m)
Robert Lewandowski ($34m)
