Defeating Messi, Ronaldo honored as the world's number one player in 2025

Cristiano Ronaldo maintains his status both on the field and in financial terms, leading the 2025 ranking of the world's top-earning players announced by Forbes.

Cristiano Ronaldo leads the 2025 list of highest-paid footballers globally, according to Forbes, with an estimated total income of $280 million (equivalent to 239 million Euros).

The 40-year-old Al Nassr forward remains the wealthiest footballer currently, thanks to massive commercial deals and a lucrative salary in the Saudi Pro League.

Lionel Messi ranks second with $130 million (111 million Euros), boosted by his contract with Inter Miami alongside numerous global endorsement deals. Karim Benzema of Al Ittihad holds third place with $104 million (89 million Euros), followed by Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) with $95 million (81 million Euros) and Erling Haaland (Manchester City) with $80 million (68 million Euros).

The remaining top 10 includes Vinícius Jr (Real Madrid, $60 million), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, $55 million), Sadio Mané (Al Nassr, $54 million), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, $44 million), and the 18-year-old talent Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, $43 million).

Since transferring to Al Nassr in December 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo has not only revitalized his career but also elevated his wealth to historic levels. After terminating his contract with Manchester United due to disagreements with coach Erik ten Hag, CR7 participated in the 2022 World Cup as a free agent before signing a record-breaking contract in Saudi Arabia.

According to Tribuna, the initial contract, signed on January 1, 2023, spans two and a half years and is valued at approximately £177 million annually, equivalent to £3.4 million per week. This deal allows Ronaldo to earn £456 million over two years.

In mid-2025, he extended his contract with Al Nassr by another two years worth £298 million, raising his income to about £12.4 million per month, an increase of £49.6 million starting July 2025. Overall, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has earned roughly £505.6 million since joining the Saudi club, where he has scored 104 goals in 117 matches.

Bloomberg’s billionaire index recently listed Cristiano Ronaldo as the first billionaire in football history, with an estimated net worth of £1.04 billion. Besides his football income, he holds numerous endorsement deals with Nike, Armani, Castrol, along with a chain of hotels, gyms, and real estate projects under the CR7 brand.

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