Forbes: Cristiano Ronaldo, highest-paid athlete in 2023-24 ($260m) ahead of Spanish golfer J. Rahm

International forward Cristiano Ronaldo (39, Al Nassr FC) is the highest-paid athlete in the world in the 2023-24 season, according to Forbes magazine's ranking of the "World's Highest-paid Athletes", published on 16/05/2024. The Portuguese player earned a total of $260m (€239m as at 16/05/2024), of which $200m came directly from his sporting achievements and $60m from his sponsorship contracts.

The Portuguese player is one of eight footballers in the Forbes Top 50, alongside 19 NBA players, 11 NFL players, 5 golfers and 3 boxers. He is ahead of Spanish golfer Jon Rahm, whose income is estimated at $218m ($198m salary and bonuses, $20m from partnerships), and Argentine footballer Lionel Messi (37, Inter Miami CF) with $135m ($65m salary and bonuses, $70m from partnerships). Kylian Mbappé (FRA/Paris Saint-Germain), the top Frenchman in the rankings (with $110m), is in 6^th place.

Eleven athletes will have earned at least $100m in 2023-24 and 42 at least $50m. In total, the 50 highest-paid athletes have generated around $3.88bn in gross earnings since May 2023, up 13% on the record…