Cristiano Ronaldo tops Forbes’ list of the highest-earning athletes for the fourth time

• Cristiano Ronaldo tops Forbes’ highest-earning athletes list.
• This was his fourth time claiming the title.
• Lionel Messi is third with $135 million.

Cristiano Ronaldo has topped Forbes’ list of the highest-earning athletes for the fourth time in his career, while Spanish golfer Jon Rahm has climbed to the second spot after his impressive switch to Saudi-backed LIV Golf.

Ronaldo became the world’s top-earning athlete following his move to the Saudi Arabian team Al Nassr, with Forbes estimating his total earnings at around $260 million, setting a new record for a football player.

His on-field earnings amounted to $200 million, and his income off the field was $60 million, thanks to sponsorship deals that capitalized on his massive Instagram following of 629 million.

Jon Rahm, a two-time major champion, joined LIV Golf in December in a deal that sent shockwaves through the golfing world, with media reports indicating that the world’s fifth-ranked player would receive at least $300 million.

In addition to this guaranteed amount, Rahm has accumulated $218 million, making him and Ronaldo the only two athletes to exceed the $200 million threshold.

Lionel Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, is in third place after securing a lucrative move to Major League Soccer team Inter Miami, which contributed to his total earnings of $135 million.

The 36-year-old has earned $65 million from his on-field activities and an additional $70 million off the field, thanks to partnerships with major brands such as Adidas and Apple.

LeBron James, a forward for the Los Angeles Lakers, is in fourth place with $128.2 million. Despite being 39 years old and nearing the end of his career, James, the first NBA player to score 40,000 career points, is preparing for one last appearance at the Olympics.

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, another NBA star, is in fifth place with $111 million, while France’s captain Kylian Mbappe has dropped to sixth place with earnings of $110 million.

Mbappe announced his departure from Paris Saint-Germain after seven years in the French capital, where he became the club’s top scorer of all time. The 25-year-old is expected to transfer to Spanish giants Real Madrid in the next transfer window.

Former PSG star Neymar, who also moved to the Saudi Pro League to play for Al Hilal, is in seventh place with $108 million, despite missing most of the season due to a torn ACL.

Karim Benzema, a French striker who recently moved to Saudi Arabia, is in eighth place with $106 million, followed by Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry with $102 million.

Lamar Jackson, the only NFL player on the list, rounds out the top ten with $100.5 million, thanks to the signing bonus included in his new contract with the Baltimore Ravens last year.