Cristiano Ronaldo first as Lionel Messi settles for third! Real Madrid-bound Kylian Mbappe also figures on Forbes’ highest-paid athletes chart alongside NBA & NFL superstars

For the first time, every entrant on the star-studded chart is pulling in over $100 million (£79m) on an annual basis. It comes as no surprise to find that Portuguese icon Ronaldo occupies first place, as he is working on the most lucrative contract in world football.

Ronaldo earns £157m ($199m) a year at Al-Nassr – where he has plundered 48 goals this season – while making up a further £48m ($61m) in a wide range of endorsement and sponsorship deals. His eternal rival, eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, makes £107m ($135m) per year – with the Argentine superstar, who is now plying his club trade in MLS for Inter Miami, earning more away from the field than he does on it.

Kylian Mbappe, who is expected to link up with Real Madrid this summer as he prepares to leave Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent, occupies sixth spot on £87m ($110m). His former PSG team-mate Neymar, who is now in Saudi Arabia with Ronaldo at Al-Hilal, brings in £85m ($108m) while former Madrid striker Karim Benzema – another of those in the Middle East at present – fills eighth spot on £84m ($106m).

The biggest mover on the chart is golf star Jon Rahm, who now sits second on £172m ($218m) courtesy of his lucrative LIV deal. NBA greats LeBron James (£101m/$128m) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (£88m/$111m) occupy fourth and fifth respectively, while Golden State Warriors legend Steph Curry sits ninth on £81m ($103m). The top 10 is rounded off by Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (£79m/$100m), with a £57m ($72m) signing bonus received when penning the new contract that he negotiated – while acting as his own agent – in 2023.