Where Cristiano Ronaldo ranks on Sportico’s all-time highest-paid athletes list

Cristiano Ronaldo has been one of the most popular sportspeople on the planet since his initial move to Old Trafford in 2003, and where he ranks in the highest-paid athletes of all time has been revealed.

Covering an array of sports from golf to Formula One, Sportico’s list ranks the 41-year-old third with inflation-adjusted earnings of $2.52 billion. Without adjustments for inflation, Ronaldo has reportedly earned $2.09 billion, the second-highest of any athlete in history. These figures reflect the forward’s salary over the years as well as bonuses, prize money, endorsements, licensing, royalties, memorabilia, book deals, media and appearance fees.

For athletes who have already retired, Sportico ensured any money earned during playing careers and in retirement through 2025 was included. Ronaldo is one of three footballers on the list, alongside Lionel Messi (fifth; $1.99 billion) and former teammate David Beckham (eighth; $1.68 billion).

Football aside, Sportico’s list of the wealthiest athletes of all time represents ten different sports. NBA legend Michael Jordan leads the way with $4.5 billion in earnings, while Tiger Woods, Roger Federer and LeBron James also make the top ten.

During the 2021/22 season, Ronaldo was the Premier League’s highest-earning player, taking home £480,000 per week. His spell at Real Madrid helped him amass wealth, as he was paid for weekly performances in the Spanish capital. Additionally, his lucrative relationship with Nike contributes to his earnings. In 2025, Ronaldo became the first footballer to hit the billion-pound fortune mark, and his £173 million per year take-home at Al-Nassr will see that rise exponentially.