- Top 10 highest earners in football revealed
- CR7 leads the way by some distance
- Saudi dominates ahead of Premier League
Getty/GOALCristiano Ronaldo earns twice as much as Lionel Messi! Record-breaking financial figures posted by Al-Nassr superstar as he races clear of Inter Miami rival on Forbes list

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Additionally, ExpressVPN's Advanced plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers an unlimited private email relay plus an unlimited number of shared aliases and 20 custom domains, ExpressKeys, which gives users a password management facility for an unlimited number of passwords plus a 2FA authenticator, and ExpressAI, an AI assistant that offers 500 credits a day, six AI models, a web search facility plus 2GB storage.
There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save around 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 67%. Both longer-term plans include a 3GB holiday.com eSIM that is valid for five days in 150+ destinations.

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Additionally, ExpressVPN's Basic plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 10MB/month private email relay plus 10 shared aliases.
There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 80%.

Advanced
Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's most popular plan, the Advance plan, gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.
The VPN can be applied across 12 different devices simultaneously, and offers Advanced Protection that blocks ads, trackers and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is available to be purchased as an add-on.
Additionally, ExpressVPN's Advanced plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 100MB/month private email relay plus 50 shared aliases and a custom domain, and ExpressKeys, which gives users a password management facility for an unlimited number of passwords plus a 2FA authenticator.
There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 73%. Both longer-term plans include a 3GB holiday.com eSIM that is valid for three days in 150+ destinations.

Pro
Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's top-tier Express Pro plan gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.
The VPN can be applied across 14 different devices simultaneously, and offers Advanced Protection that blocks ads, trackers and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is included with the Express Pro plan.
Additionally, ExpressVPN's Advanced plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers an unlimited private email relay plus an unlimited number of shared aliases and 20 custom domains, ExpressKeys, which gives users a password management facility for an unlimited number of passwords plus a 2FA authenticator, and ExpressAI, an AI assistant that offers 500 credits a day, six AI models, a web search facility plus 2GB storage.
There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save around 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 67%. Both longer-term plans include a 3GB holiday.com eSIM that is valid for five days in 150+ destinations.

Basic
Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's entry-level Basic plan gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.
The VPN can be applied across 10 different devices simultaneously, and offers Lite Protection that blocks ads and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is available to be purchased as an add-on.
Additionally, ExpressVPN's Basic plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 10MB/month private email relay plus 10 shared aliases.
There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 80%.

Advanced
Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's most popular plan, the Advance plan, gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.
The VPN can be applied across 12 different devices simultaneously, and offers Advanced Protection that blocks ads, trackers and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is available to be purchased as an add-on.
Additionally, ExpressVPN's Advanced plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 100MB/month private email relay plus 50 shared aliases and a custom domain, and ExpressKeys, which gives users a password management facility for an unlimited number of passwords plus a 2FA authenticator.
There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 73%. Both longer-term plans include a 3GB holiday.com eSIM that is valid for three days in 150+ destinations.
GettyWHAT HAPPENED?
It has been revealed that the Portuguese superstar pulled in £218 million ($285) over the course of the last 12 months – with that healthy return placing him at the top of a highest-earning chart by quite some distance. Ronaldo’s financial figures have soared over the course of the last 10 years, since topping the charts in 2014 with earnings of £55m ($73m).
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Ronaldo’s stunning £170m ($220m) contract at Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr helps him to lead the way, while also generating £49m ($65m) from commercial deals. His haul of £218m sees the evergreen 39-year-old break his own record when it comes to annual earnings – which had stood at £199m ($260m) and only former boxing world champion Floyd Mayweather can claim to have earned more in a 12-month period.
GettyDID YOU KNOW?
Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi sits a long way back on his eternal rival in second place on the Forbes list, with the Argentine icon bringing in £103m ($135m). The Inter Miami playmaker does top the charts when it comes to off-field ventures, as they earned him £57m ($75m) across the last 12 months.
TELL ME MORE
It comes as no surprise to find that Saudi-based players dominate the chart, with Brazilian forward Neymar (£84m/$110m), French striker Karim Benzema (£79m/$104m) and Senegalese winger Sadio Mane (£40m/$52m) – who ply their trade for Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr respectively – all in the top 10.
Getty ImagesWHO ELSE MAKES THE TOP 10?
La Liga dominance of the list has been broken in recent times, with Real Madrid forwards Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr the only stars playing in Spain to fill positions in the top 10. There are three Premier League representatives in the form of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland (£45m/$60m), his club colleague Kevin De Bruyne and Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah.
WHAT NEXT?
While earning more than double what Messi brings in, Ronaldo’s figures also eclipse the combined totals of entrants sixth through tenth on the Forbes list. CR7’s current contract is due to expire in 2025, but he is expected to sign an extension in the Middle East and intends to play on for some time yet.
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