Football stars dominate the top ten big earners in sport in the year that is coming to an end. A pensioner is also among the super-rich
In sporting terms, perennial rivals Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been relegated to insignificance. Financially, however, the soccer superstars have returned to the top of the sport’s top earners in the late autumn of their careers – with a slight advantage for the Portuguese.
Thanks to his hefty contract with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo is once again the top international earner for the first time since 2017. According to Forbes magazine, the 2016 European champion will earn around 126 million euros (gross) over the course of 2023. Almost six million euros more than the Argentinian Messi in second place, who has been wearing the jersey of Beckham’s club Inter Miami since last summer. In third place is another footballer: Kylian Mbappé, striker for Messi’s former club Paris St. Germain, recorded around 111 million euros in earnings
Federer doesn’t even have to play anymore – “gender pay gap” takes hold
Which continent they play a sport on doesn’t seem to play a major role in their salary. A big name and good marketing outweigh sporting relevance. This is also shown by the position of retired tennis player Roger Federer (42) in the ranking. The Swiss had already played his last official career match in 2022, but in 2023 he still landed in ninth place on the list with earnings of around 88 million euros.
Serena Williams, who is the first woman on the list in 49th place, also benefits from perfect marketing – although the gender pay gap also has an impact here. Like Federer, the 23-time Grand Slam winner ended her career in 2022. Despite this, the 42-year-old still recorded around 41.5 million in earnings in 2023, making her the highest-paid female athlete of the year
The change to the desert is also paying off for golfers
As with Ronaldo, the move to the desert paid off for US golfers Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson. The two Major winners left the prestigious PGA Tour and are now playing on the Saudi Arabian LIV Tour. With 99 million euros (Johnson) and 98 million euros (Mickelson), the two golfing greats are ranked sixth and seventh respectively.
Meanwhile, basketball superstar LeBron James is one of three NBA players in the top ten. At around 110 million euros, the 38-year-old just missed out on the podium in fourth place. Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors (€93 million, eighth place) and Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns (€82 million, tenth place) are a little further down the table.
Boxing, football, baseball – who is where?
The top ten is completed by an exotic player: Multiple boxing world champion Canelo Alvarez from Mexico took in just under €101 million, putting him in fifth place behind James.
Meanwhile, the highest-ranked footballer from the NFL is Russell Wilson in 12th place, on a par with Brazilian soccer star Neymar. The motorsport stars are led by Lewis Hamilton (Formula 1) in 21st place, just ahead of Max Verstappen, who dominates the sport. Among the baseball players from the MLB, pitcher Max Scherzer (26th) was ahead in 2023
The top ten at a glance
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (soccer) – 126 million euros
2. Lionel Messi (soccer) – 120 million euros
3. Kylian Mbappé (soccer) – 111 million euros
4. LeBron James (basketball) – 110 million euros
5. Canelo Alvarez (boxing) – 101 million euros
6. Dustin Johnson (golf) – 99 million euros
7. Phil Mickelson (golf) – 98 million euros
8. Stephen Curry (basketball) – 93 million euros
9. Roger Federer (tennis, retired) – 88 million euros
10. Kevin Durant (basketball) – 82 million euros
…
49. Serena Williams (tennis) – 41.5 million euros
