Cristiano Ronaldo Tops Forbes Rich List, Edges Steph Curry Who Ranked 2nd

Real Madrid legend, Cristiano Ronaldo, has been named the world’s highest-paid athlete for the third year in a row. He recently topped Forbes’ latest rich list after the 40-year-old Portuguese striker earned an estimated £ 206.6 million ($275m) last year, an increase of £11.2m from 2023.

Cristiano’s additional wealth was always coming after he penned a £ 177 million-a-year contract with Saudi club Al Nassr, immediately after he left Manchester United in 2022.

Ronaldo’s £ 177 million-a-year contract has only ever been bettered by popular boxer, Floyd Mayweather, who earned a whopping $300m (then £194m) in 2015 and $275m in 2018 (then £205m).

CR7 edged NBA legend, Steph Curry, who was ranked second with a £117m ($156m) salary in one season.

WOW.

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro GOIH ComM is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for and captains both Saudi Pro League club, Al Nassr and the Portugal national team.

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro was born on 5 February 1985 in the São Pedro parish of Funchal, the capital of the Portuguese island of Madeira, and grew up in the nearby parish of Santo António. He is the fourth and youngest child of Maria Dolores dos Santos Viveiros da Aveiro, who worked as a cook in the hospitality industry and a cleaning woman, and José Dinis Aveiro, a municipal gardener at the Junta de Freguesia of Santo António and part-time kit man for football club Andorinha.

Ronaldo’s move to Manchester United was completed on 12 August 2003, too late for the 2003 FA Community Shield but in time for their game against Bolton Wanderers on the opening day of the 2003–04 season, and made him the first Portuguese player to sign for the club.

Ahead of the 2009–10 season, Ronaldo joined Real Madrid for a world record transfer fee at the time of £80 million (€94 million). His contract, which ran until 2015, was worth €11 million per year and contained a €1 billion buy-out clause.