Ronaldo Tops Forbes’ Highest- Athletes List In 2023 After Saudi Move
Cristiano Ronaldo has become the world’s highest-paid athlete after his move to Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr, according to Forbes.
The publication released its list of the 10 highest-paid athletes for 2023, which was topped by Ronaldo for the first time since 2017. Lionel Messi came in second and Kylian Mbappé was third.
The trio were the only soccer players on the list, and all draw their huge salaries from Middle Eastern countries. Messi and Mbappé are teammates at Qatari-owned PSG.
Except, not for long! Widespread reports on Wednesday stated that Messi would be leaving PSG at the end of the season when his contract expires. The divorce has been in the works for a while, but was sped up when PSG suspended Messi on Tuesday for an unauthorized trip to — you guessed it — Saudi Arabia.
Messi’s next trip to Saudi Arabia could see him regain his spot atop the Forbes list in 2024. The Telegraph reported that Messi’s representatives are in talks with the Saudi government — for which Messi is already a paid spokesperson — over a deal to bring him to the Saudi Pro League that would be worth a total of $400 million per year.
That would dwarf Ronaldo’s total package of an estimated $136 million.
In a very related story, golfers Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson also appear on the Forbes list after leaving the PGA Tour for Saudi-backed LIV Golf.
Forbes Top 10 money list in 2023
- Cristiano Ronaldo ($136 million)
- Lionel Messi ($130m)
- Kylian Mbappé ($120m)
- LeBron James ($119.5m)
- Canelo Álvarez ($110m)
- Dustin Johnson ($107m)
- Phil Mickelson ($106m)
- Stephen Curry ($100.4m)
- Roger Federer ($95.1m)
- Kevin Durant ($89.1m)