The Highest Paid Athletes in the World in 2024, Footballers Dominate

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - In the 2023 season, Cristiano Ronaldo set a record of becoming the player with the most number of goals scored. The Al Nassr striker amassed a total of 54 goals throughout the course of the season, surpassing that of Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, and Erling Haaland, as reported by Tempo on December 31, 2023.

Nevertheless, this is not his only accomplishment. Forbes listed him as one of the highest-paid athletes in 2024, with earnings exceeding $250 million.

Alongside Rolando, other athletes have also made a name for themselves as the richest sportsman in the world. Here is the list of highest-paid athletes in the world for the year 2024, citing Forbes and Statista.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo ($260 M)

Starting off the list, Cristiano Ronaldo has set the bar high. Forbes mentioned that the 39-year-old Portuguese footballer raked in a whopping $260 million, with an on-field fee from Al Nassr topping it off at $200 million.

Four times during his career, Ronaldo has named himself the highest-paid athlete in the world, and it's clear why. In addition, he has also been recognized with Player of the Month honors in August, September, December, and March.

2. Jon Rahm ($218 M)

Spanish professional golfer Jon Rahm follows right behind Ronaldo at the second spot. The Spaniard has a total income estimated at $218 million.

Rahm has achieved 21 wins throughout his career. Citing from LIV Golf, the 29-year-old has won the 2023 Masters, the 2021 US Open, and the DP World Tour Championship (2017, 2019, and 2022).

While he has yet to win the recent LIV Gold event, Rahm has earned an impressive $6.6 million from seven tournaments during 2024.

3. Lionel Messi ($135 M)

Another footballer who deserves a place on this list is Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi. While Ronaldo is undoubtedly the richest sportsman—in this case, footballer, Messi has also earned a considerable amount throughout his career.

Standing at a total of $135 million, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner makes $65 million in on-field revenue. Off the field, the football star partners with some prominent sponsorships, including Adidas, Konami, and Apple.

4. LeBron James ($128.2 M)

American basketball power forward, LeBron James, often referred to as "King James," remains one of the most marketable athletes in the world. In 2024, this basketball star is among the top earners, thanks to his NBA salary and a plethora of endorsements.

While he has secured $48.2 million on the field, James partnered with DraftKings and joined PGA Tour Enterprises, a group of celebrities investing in golf-related commercial ventures, as his post-NBA career path.

5. Giannis Antetokounmpo ($111 M)

Basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo is a great addition to this list of highest-paid athletes in 2024. The Milwaukee Bucks star has been playing on the court for 11 years, according to the NBA's official website.

Antetokounmpo pulled in an impressive $111 million, both on and off the court. He recently partnered with Pepsi's Starry in February and launched his production company the previous month.

6. Kylian Mbappé ($110 M)

Despite his relatively young age, French footballer Kylian Mbappé has earned an astonishing $110 million, on and off-field revenues combined. Apart from this list, Transfermarkt named the Real Madrid center-forward as one of the most valuable footballers in 2024, with a market value of €180 million (approximately $198 million).

The young talent formed a production company in 2022, and has added partnerships with the NBA, Nike, and others.

7. Neymar ($108 M)

Forbes also listed Neymar as one of the highest-paid athletes in the year 2024. The now-Al-Hilal star has secured a substantial earning equivalent to $108 million.

In addition to his club income, Neymar has endorsement deals with notable brands, Skims, Puma, and Fun Brands are the very recent.

Editor's Choice: 10 Most Expensive Football Players 2024 in the World

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