Cristiano Ronaldo Tops Forbes' Highest-Paid Athletes List Again

Cristiano Ronaldo has once again claimed the top spot on Forbes' annual list of the world's highest-paid athletes, marking his third consecutive year at number one and the fifth time in his career. Following his high-profile move to the Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, Ronaldo's earnings have soared to an estimated $275 million. Off-field endorsements and substantial sponsorship deals, bolstered by his immense social media following, have further increased his income by $15 million.

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors follows Ronaldo, securing the second-place position on the list with earnings of $156 million. In March, Curry achieved a milestone as the first NBA player to reach 4,000 career three-pointers. Tyson Fury occupies the third spot in the rankings, with his earnings of $146 million attributed to promotional partnerships and his Netflix series, despite losing his heavyweight titles to Oleksandr Usyk.

Other notable figures include Dak Prescott, who ranks fourth with $137 million, primarily from signing bonuses and contract extensions, and Lionel Messi, who is fifth with $135 million. LeBron James, nearing retirement, is sixth with $133.8 million, while New York Mets' Juan Soto and French striker Karim Benzema are seventh and eighth, respectively. Japanese MLB star Shohei Ohtani and NBA's Kevin Durant complete the top ten.

(With inputs from agencies.)