Forbes: C. Ronaldo, highest-paid footballer ($280m) in 2025-26, ahead of L. Messi & K. Benzema

International forward Cristiano Ronaldo (40, Al Nassr FC) is the world's highest-paid footballer in 2025-26, according to Forbes magazine's ranking of the highest earners, published on 16/10/2025. The Portuguese player is expected to earn $280m (€240m as at 16/10/2025) this season, including $230m from his sporting achievements and $50m from sponsorship contracts.

The Portuguese leads the list for the seventh time in the last decade. His £280m is slightly down on his 2024-25 record set for a footballer ($285m).

Cristiano Ronaldo ranks ahead of Argentina's Lionel Messi (38), whose income is estimated at $130m ($60m salary & bonuses and $70m from partnerships), and who joined Inter Miami CF (MLS) in July 2023 until the end of 2025. The latter is the player with the highest income outside his club contract ($70m). In third place is France's Karim Benzema ($104m), who also joined a Saudi club (All Ittihad) in August 2023.

In total, the ten highest-paid footballers are expected to earn a pre-tax income of $945m this season, a slight decrease (-4%) on the $983m earned in 2024-25. The top…