“Cristiano Ronaldo Tops Forbes’ List of Highest-Paid Athletes Thanks to Imaginary Contract with Saudi Club”

Thanks to his imaginary contract with the Saudi club Al-Nasr, he became the Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo The world’s highest-paid athlete in 2023, with an income of $136 million, ahead of Argentine Lionel Messi and Frenchman Kylian Mbappe, according to the annual Forbes magazine ranking published Tuesday.

The 38-year-old Portuguese striker returned to the first place he occupied in 2016 and 2017.

This return to the top is the direct result of his departure from Manchester United to Saudi Arabia in January, because his combined contracts earn him $46 million this season, in addition to $90 million from various commercial partnerships over the past 12 months.

And thanks to his contract until 2025 with Al-Nasr, Ronaldo will receive an annual salary of $ 75 million, according to estimates by specialized American media, which also expects “additional marketing opportunities” in this country, which has also become its unofficial sports ambassador.

It is a role also played by Messi, the French player of Paris Saint-Germain, who was removed from first place, despite his total income of $ 130 million before taxes.

The Argentine “flea” is already bound by a major contract with the tourism authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, although he plays in a Qatari-owned club that suspended him today from competitions for a period of two weeks as punishment for his travel to Riyadh.

Ronaldo and Messi are not the only ones linked to the large sports investments of Saudi Arabia, as the Americans Dustin Johnson ($ 107 million) and Phil Mickelson (106) appeared in the top ten (sixth and seventh places), and they reaped their profits by participating in the “Live Golf” tournament, which is a breakaway tournament funded by Saudi Arabia. .

Another St. Germain striker, Kylian Mbappe, completed a three-pronged contract, making an amazing jump from thirty-fifth to third place with revenues of $ 120 million, due to his contract, which he renewed last year with the Parisian club, which gave him a hundred million dollars.

Besides this biggest salary in world football, there are 20 million in off-field revenue.

Behind him is the American basketball star, Lakers player LeBron James, 38, and his earnings of $ 119.5 million, of which $ 75 million is from non-sports profits.

France 24/AFP