Guinness World Records said Cristiano Ronaldo had broken yet another record by becoming the world’s highest-paid athlete.
In 2023, Ronaldo will hold the Guinness World Records record for the highest annual earnings for an athlete after topping Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-paid athletes for the third time overall and for the first time since 2017.
Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to have made $136 million (£107.5 million) in the 12 months before May 1, 2023 (the date by which most sports seasons end).
Messi, who earned an estimated $130 million (£103 million) in 2022 as the highest-paid athlete, loses the title to Ronaldo.
On-field earnings of $46 million (£35 million) and off-field earnings of $90 million (£68.5 million) make up Ronaldo’s record-breaking income.
Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United in January 2023 for the Saudi Arabian team Al-Nassr after an unimpressive second stint there. He was given a bumper contract that increased his pay by almost twice as much, to an estimated $75 million (£57 million).
His off-field income, however, dwarfs his on-field income. Ronaldo generates income from his CR7-branded goods and his lifetime contract with Nike.
Based on information gathered from industry insiders, news sources, and compensation databases, Forbes determines athletes’ earnings.
While the off-field earnings are an estimate of sponsorship deals, appearance fees, memorabilia, and licensing income, plus cash returns from any enterprises in which the athlete has a strong interest, the on-field earnings numbers include wages, prize money, and bonuses.
They account for distributions from equity investments that athletes have sold but do not include interest or dividends from investment income.
Two more football/soccer players, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé, complete the top three highest-paid athletes on the 2022–2023 list.
With $130 million, Messi placed second, with $65 million coming from on-field revenue and $65 million coming from off-field income.
Comparatively, Mbappé’s on-field earnings of $100 million substantially influence his $120 million total.
LeBron James, who came in fourth with $119 million ($44.5 million on-court earnings; $75 million off-court), set a record for the highest annual earnings for a basketball player in 2023, while Canelo Alvarez, who came in fifth with $110 million ($100 million in the ring; $10 million outside), set a record for the highest annual earnings for a boxer in 2023.
In addition, Roger Federer and Serena Williams had the greatest yearly earnings for male tennis players in 2023 and the top annual earnings for female tennis players in 2023, respectively, despite both of them retiring in September 2022.
Roger, who came in ninth overall, earned a total of $95.1 million, practically all of which came from off-court sources ($95 million vs. only $100,000 from on-court profits).
Serena, who finished in 49th place, earned a total of $45.3 million, which was made up of $45 million in profits off the court and $300,000 earned on the court.
