Cristiano Ronaldo tops Forbes’ highest-paid athletes list in 2023 after Saudi move
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Moving to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr nearly doubled Cristiano Ronaldo's annual playing salary, said Forbes.
PHOTO: AFP
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NEW YORK – Cristiano Ronaldo became the world’s highest-paid athlete after his move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr nearly doubled his annual playing salary, while Paris Saint-Germain duo Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe round off the top three, according to Forbes.
Ronaldo, who joined the Saudi football club on a deal until 2025 after leaving Manchester United last November, earned US$136 million (S$181.3 million), with Forbes saying his annual playing salary went up to an estimated US$75 million.
The 38-year-old’s contract has been estimated by media to be worth more than €200 million (S$294.2 million).
PSG forward Messi, 35, was next on the list after bringing home a combined US$130 million, while club teammate and France captain Mbappe – the youngest on the list at 24 – earned US$120 million to sit third. PSG are owned by Qatar Sports Investments.
Messi’s earnings could be set to change after French sports daily L’Equipe reported on Tuesday that his contract will not be renewed following an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia.
Messi signed an optional third-season clause in his contract when he first arrived in 2021. Club officials have decided not to activate it, the report said.
He was suspended for two weeks on Tuesday, L’Equipe added, as he was supposed to train with his team following a 3-1 home defeat by Lorient in Ligue 1 on Sunday, but instead flew to Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles Lakers player and National Basketball Association great LeBron James (US$119.5 million) and Mexican boxer Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (US$110 million) rounded out the top five.
2022 also saw the advent of LIV Golf, the tour that has lured away some of the United States-based PGA Tour’s top players with huge sums of money, and two of its golfers make the top 10.
Former world No. 1 Dustin Johnson (sixth with US$107 million) made the biggest gain after making the controversial switch. He was joined by fellow LIV golfer Phil Mickelson (seventh with US$106 million).
Four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry (US$100.4 million) of the Golden State Warriors and the Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant (US$89.1 million) are the other two basketball players on the list.
Paris St Germain duo Lionel Messi (right) and Kylian Mbappe are the second and third-highest paid athletes respectively.
PHOTO: AFP
Former tennis ace Roger Federer (US$95.1 million) is the only retired player in the top 10.
Forbes said its on-field earnings figures include all prize money, salaries and bonuses earned in the last 12 months while off-field earnings are an estimate of sponsorship deals, appearance fees, licensing income and cash returns from businesses they operate.
REUTERS