As published Forbesa United States magazine specialized in the world of business and finance, Cristiano Ronaldo He is the footballer who generated the most money in 2024, surpassing the second on the list by $150 million. Lionel Andres Messi. Why this huge difference between the Portuguese and the Rosario? For the impressive contract that the Bug signed in Saudi Arabia.
Cristiano Ronaldo, forward for Saudi Al-Nassr, became the highest-paid footballer in 2024 with estimated earnings of $285 million. Ronaldo, 39, earned $220 million in salary and nearly $65 million from his extra-football activities, including the recent opening of his YouTube channel, which surpassed one million followers in the first ninety minutes. “Ronaldo’s more traditional partnerships include Nike, Herbalife and Whoop, in which he has an equity stake, not to mention CR-branded hotels, fragrances and underwear,” the post says.
The difference between Ronaldo and Messi, who has a contract in the United States until 2025 with the option to extend it until 2026, is striking: he occupies second place in this table with 135 million dollars in income. He has a salary of 60 million at Inter Miami and generated 75 million off the field of play. There is a medal that La Pulga can hang on: he is the player who generates the most off the field.
“Messi has an impressive portfolio of off-field partners, including Adidas, Apple TV and Konami, and an Instagram account with more than 500 million followers. Last month, he also launched his own production company called 525 Rosario, called so because of his hometown in Argentina and the address of his family home,” says Forbes.
The Brazilian Neymar Junior, from the Saudi Al-Hilal, completes the podium with income of 110 million dollars. Despite having missed almost all of last season due to a cruciate ligament injury, the midfielder has a contract of 80 million dollars annually, to which income of 30 million is added from his investments and sponsorships.
Frenchman Karim Benzema, from Saudi Al-Ittihad, is fourth ($104 million), while the first player from a European league to enter this table is fellow Frenchman Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid forward.
According to Forbes, Mbappé, who finished the 2023-24 campaign at Paris Saint Germain, earned a total of $90 million in 2024, $70 million in salary and $20 million for off-the-field activities.
His teammate at Real Madrid, the Brazilian Vinicius Junior, is seventh with a total of 55 million dollars in income, 40 million dollars in salary and 15 away from the field.
The Norwegian Erling Haaland, Manchester City forward, is sixth (60 million); The Egyptian Mohamed Salah, from Liverpool, occupies eighth place (53 million), the Senegalese Sadio Mané, from Al-Nassr, is ninth (48 million) and the Belgian Kevin De Bruyne, from Manchester City, closes the top-10 ‘ with 39 million.