Cristiano Ronaldo has topped the Forbes list of highest-paid athletes for the third consecutive year.
According to the highly-rated magazine, Ronaldo has increased his estimated total earnings by $15m to $275m (approx £206m).
Ronaldo has generated greater income through off-field endorsements, and sponsorship deals backed by his social media followers, which currently total 939m.
This is the fifth time Ronaldo has topped the list in his illustrious career.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry moved up to second on the list with an estimated earning of $156m (approx £117m).
British boxer Tyson Fury moved up to third with $146m (approx £109m) despite losing his world heavyweight titles to Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk in December.
Fury benefited largely from a Netflix reality television show and a partnership with Maltese tourism.
Lionel Messi dropped from third to fifth after joining Inter Miami.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, nearing the end of his illustrious career, came in sixth with $133.8 million.
World’s top 10 highest paid athletes 2025
1. Cristiano Ronaldo, football: $275m (£206.6m)
2. Stephen Curry, basketball: $156m (£117.2m)
3. Tyson Fury, boxing: $146m (£109.7m)
4. Dak Prescott, American football: $137m (£103m)
5. Lionel Messi, football: $135m (£101.4m)
6. LeBron James, basketball: $133.8m (£105.5m)
7. Juan Soto, baseball: $114m (£85.7m)
8. Karim Benzema, football: $104m (£78.2m)
9. Shohei Ohtani, baseball: $102.5m (£77m)
10. Kevin Durant, basketball: $101.4m (£76.2m)
