KABUL: According to Forbes’ annual report for 2025, Cristiano Ronaldo topped the list of the world’s highest-paid athletes with an income of $275 million over the past 12 months.
Of this amount, $225 million came from his sports contract with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, while $50 million was generated from off-field business activities.
Stephen Curry ranked second with $156 million, followed by Tyson Fury with $146 million. Lionel Messi secured the fifth position with $135 million.
At 40 years old, Ronaldo set a record for the largest income gap in the history of this ranking, leading by a significant $119 million over the second-place athlete. He has previously topped this list two other times.
Notably, the presence of players from the Saudi league and the reduced presence of European stars are key highlights of this year’s list.
