Culture Axis: New Preds, Messi answers 'Stoke' question & more

Flimsy Liverpool risk letting down Messi-like Salah in title race

The Curious Case of Marcelo

Man Utd three-peat or MLS? Pogba's transfer options - ranked

UCL Power Rankings: Barca No.1 after lucky draw as Liverpool fall

Editors' Picks

Walker’s wife Kilner jets to Dubai for night out with Rooney

'I regret leaving Barca' - Former wonderkid admits mistake after Camp Nou exit

LIVE: Champions League round of 16 draw

UCL last-16 draw: Liverpool land PSG, Arsenal face PSV

Antony's hot Betis start is over as Barca flop Roque sees red

Bompastor admits 'lying for 13 years' over secret relationship

Walker warned 'Milan is a danger city' after off-field problems

<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Portuguese icon well clear in first place</li><li>Eight sports represented in top 100</li><li>Five football players inside the top 10</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

Cristiano Ronaldo tops list of highest-paid athletes in 2024 ahead of NBA superstar Steph Curry, heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury and eternal rival Lionel Messi

<p>Evergreen frontman Ronaldo, who is <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-final-career-goals-man-utd-coach-cr7-objectives-lebron-james-target-involving-portuguese-goat-son/blt9b4b88b27269a562" target="_blank">still going strong with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr at 40 years of age</a>, earned $260 million (£208m) across the last calendar year – with $215m (£172m) of that coming from his <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-agrees-extend-al-nassr-contract-neymar-al-hilal-highest-paid-player-football-history/blt6f4903f86d02e6b5" target="_blank">record-breaking contract in the Middle East</a>.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>NBA superstar Curry, of the Golden State Warriors, fills second spot on the <a href="https://www.sportico.com/feature/highest-paid-athletes-in-the-world-1234765608/" target="_blank"><em>Sportico</em></a> top-earners list on $153.8m (£123m). Former world heavyweight boxing champion Fury is third ($147m/£118m), while Ronaldo’s eternal rival <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-stay-inter-miami-2026-happy-claim-alexis-mac-allister-argentina-international-future-mls-world-cup-trophy-defence/blte1763b48093403e0" target="_blank">Messi – who is now in MLS with Inter Miami</a> – sitting fourth ($135m/£108m) and LA Lakers icon LeBron James ($133.2m/£107m) completing the top five.</p>

THE GOSSIP

<p>Overall, the top 100 highest-paid athletes on the planet pulled in an estimated $6.2 billion (£5bn) between them. Prominent figures from eight different sports – football, basketball, boxing, golf, American football, Formula 1, baseball and tennis – make the list, with 27 countries represented.</p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>There are no female athletes inside the top 100, with tennis superstar Coco Gauff – who won her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2024 – the top earner in her field at $30.4m (£24m). Her on and off-court appeal is expected to help her climb the charts in years to come.</p><picture><source srcset="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/bltb43386893cd79a3a/GOAL%202.0%20-%20Starting%20XI%20-%20X.png?format=webp" type="image/webp"><source srcset="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/bltb43386893cd79a3a/GOAL%202.0%20-%20Starting%20XI%20-%20X.png?format=jpg" type="image/jpeg"><img src="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/bltb43386893cd79a3a/GOAL%202.0%20-%20Starting%20XI%20-%20X.png?format=jpg" alt="Top 10 highest-paid athletes 2024" data-source="Getty Images" data-copyright="Getty/GOAL" data-portal-copyright="Getty/GOAL" perform:prop="uuid:bltb43386893cd79a3a;width:1080;height:1350"></picture>

TELL ME MORE

<p>When it comes to world No.1 Ronaldo, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has now earned at least $100m (£80m) across eight straight years. His <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cristiano-ronaldo-earns-twice-as-much-lionel-messi-record-breaking-financial-figures-al-nassr-inter-miami-forbes/bltb55809193539bb44" target="_blank">career earnings are now said to top</a> $1.8bn (£1.4bn), with his on-field salary being complemented by endorsement deals with the likes of Nike, Herbalife and Binance.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

Cristiano Ronaldo tops list of highest-paid athletes in 2024 ahead of NBA superstar Steph Curry, heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury and eternal rival Lionel Messi | Goal.com

Cristiano Ronaldo was the world’s highest-paid athlete in 2024, with the Portuguese topping the likes of Steph Curry, Tyson Fury and Lionel Messi.