Overview
- Cristiano Ronaldo led 2025 earnings at $260 million in Sportico’s newly released list, marking his third straight year at No. 1.
- Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr agreement features large guarantees and club-tied commercial add‑ons, and he announced an extension through 2027.
- MLB broke into the top 10 for the first time since 2021 as Juan Soto earned $129.2 million, including a $75 million Mets signing bonus, and Shohei Ohtani totaled $102.5 million with $100 million from endorsements.
- LeBron James reclaimed the NBA earnings lead with $80 million in endorsements versus Stephen Curry’s $50 million following Curry’s split from Under Armour.
- Saudi Arabia’s footprint is evident across the list, with Ronaldo, Canelo Álvarez, Karim Benzema and LIV golfer Jon Rahm tied to Saudi-backed clubs or events.