“The World’s Highest-Paid Athletes of 2023: Cristiano Ronaldo Takes the Top Spot According to Forbes List”

The publication of the Forbes List with the highest paid athletes of the year (gains obtained between May 1, 2022 and May 1, 2023 are collected) a new king leaves us: Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portuguese footballer is the particular leader of this ranking after getting some total earnings of 136 million dollars (123 million euros), of which 46 million dollars come from his salary first at Manchester United and then at Al Nassr and another 90 million from the advertising contracts he maintains. About 136 million dollars, which represents the record of earnings in one year for a footballer according to Forbes. The magazine also indicates that only three athletes have won more than him in a year: Roger Federer, Tiger Woods and Conor McGregor.

In this way Cristiano takes the ‘money duel’ with Leo Messi who appears second in this ranking with 130 million dollars (118 million euros), Of which 65 come from a salary at PSG and another 65 from sponsorships from brands such as Adidas, Budweiser, PepsiCo or Partners, amid the controversy over his possible departure from the Parisian team next season.

His teammate at PSG Kylian Mbappé completes the podium, with a total of 120 million dollars (109 million euros) of which only 100 come from salary, which makes him the highest paid footballer in the world this year, and 20 from sponsorships from companies like Sorare.

The first on this list outside of the world of soccer is the great NBA star, LeBron James, who has received a total of 119.5 million dollars (108 million euros) of which 44.5 are as salary while the remaining 75 come from sponsorships. Forbes also points out that LeBron became the first billionaire athlete thanks to his investments in Fenway Sports Group, the owners of Liverpool or the Boston Red Sox, in addition to creating his own team in the Major League Pickleball.

Boxing also does not miss its usual appointment with the Forbes list of the highest paid athletes and this year it is represented by the Mexican Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez. Canelo has received in the last 12 months a total of 110 million dollars (100 million euros), of which 100 are due to bags or contracts to box, while the remaining 10 are from sponsorships.

A list in which golfers also appear Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson, sixth and seventh with a total of 1007 and 106 million dollars (97 and 96 million euros) respectively after making the jump to LIV Golf. In this Top-10 there is also a great fan of golf but a better basketball player like the star of the Warriors Stephen Curry, who in the last 12 months has received a total of 100.4 million dollars (91 million euros) of which 48.4 are for salary and the other 52 remaining in sponsorships from companies such as Under Armor or Chase Bank.

In this Top-10, the presence of Roger Federer is surprising despite being retired. ‘His Majesty of him’ achieved a profit of 95.1 million dollars in the last 12 months (86 million euros) thanks to the sponsorships it maintains with companies like Uniqlo. In addition, Federer has also taken a significant step as an investor in the sport with a large stake in Swiss sportswear brand On.

The Top-10 is closed by the player of the Phoenix Suns of the NBA Kevin Durant, who in the last 12 months has achieved earnings of 89.1 million dollars (81 million euros)of which 44 are in salary, first in the Brooklyn Nets and then in the Suns, and the remaining 45.1 in various sponsorships with brands such as Nike.