Cristiano Ronaldo Tops List of 100 Highest-Paid Athletes — No Women, No Indians Make the Cut

Persevering with his dominance in the sports activities world, Cristiano Ronaldo has as soon as once more secured his place as the highest-paid athlete globally. In response to the newest Sportico report, the Portuguese soccer icon raked in an astounding $260 million (roughly Rs 2,260 crore) in 2024. The findings additionally spotlight the rising dominance of older athletes in earnings. The highest 10 listing is predominantly crammed with athletes of their mid-to-late 30s. Moreover, Saudi Arabia’s rising affect in world sports activities is obvious, as a number of prime earners have considerably benefited from high-paying contracts in the Saudi Professional League and different Saudi-backed sporting ventures.

Nonetheless, the newest Sportico report on the 100 highest-paid athletes reveals a obvious gender disparity — no feminine athletes made the coveted listing. There aren’t any Indian athletes, both. 

Ronaldo Reigns Supreme

Turning 40 final week, the Portuguese soccer legend continues to defy age and expectations. Regardless of being at a stage the place most athletes think about retirement, Ronaldo stays at the pinnacle of his profession, breaking information and incomes unprecedented sums. His earnings are primarily pushed by his profitable contract with Saudi Professional League membership Al Nassr, which accounts for $215 million, whereas an extra $45 million comes from endorsements with manufacturers like Nike, Herbalife, Altice, and Binance, in accordance with the report. His huge world following — he was the first particular person to surpass one billion social media followers — additional solidifies his marketability.

Ronaldo’s Saudi transfer in 2022 supercharged his earnings, setting a pattern adopted by a number of different soccer stars. Neymar and Karim Benzema additionally characteristic in the prime 10, benefiting from profitable Saudi contracts. Nonetheless, regardless of incomes huge sums, neither might match Ronaldo’s monetary prowess.

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Lionel Messi To LeBron James: The Ageing Elite 

The very best earners in 2024 predominantly belong to an older era of athletes. Amongst the prime eight, solely Neymar, at 33, is underneath 36 years outdated. Following Ronaldo in the rankings are NBA star Stephen Curry ($153.8 million), heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury ($147 million), Argentina’s soccer icon Lionel Messi ($135 million), and basketball nice LeBron James ($133.2 million). James, like Ronaldo, additionally turned 40 this 12 months, demonstrating the monetary energy of established superstars.

The monetary explosion in sports activities is basically pushed by skyrocketing TV offers, rising wage caps, and the huge affect of Saudi funding in world sports activities, significantly in soccer, boxing, golf, and tennis. The collective earnings of the prime 100 athletes surged 14% from final 12 months to a staggering $6.2 billion — $4.8 billion from salaries, bonuses, and prize cash, with the remaining $1.4 billion stemming from endorsements.

A List With out Ladies

For the second consecutive 12 months, no feminine athletes made the prime 100, highlighting the stark pay disparity in skilled sports activities. The closest contender was US tennis sensation Coco Gauff, who earned $30.4 million — $7.4 million quick of the lowest-paid male athlete on the listing, NFL quarterback Daniel Jones ($37.5 million). Gauff, who received the doubles title at the French Open and the singles championship at the WTA Finals, continues to be a rising star in ladies’s tennis. Nonetheless, her spectacular earnings had been nonetheless not sufficient to interrupt into the all-male prime 100.

The gender pay hole in sports activities stays a contentious concern, with male athletes persistently incomes greater salaries, commanding extra profitable sponsorships, and benefiting from bigger prize swimming pools. 

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No Indian On The List

Surprisingly, India — one of the world’s most sports-obsessed nations — had no illustration on the listing. Regardless of cricket’s immense recognition and the Indian Premier League (IPL) being amongst the most profitable sporting leagues, no Indian cricketer cracked the prime 100. 

Virat Kohli, usually India’s highest-paid athlete, reportedly earned round $34 million in 2024, as per a Sportskeeda report — spectacular however nonetheless beneath the $37.5 million threshold required to make the Sportico listing of 100. Whereas cricket enjoys a large fanbase, the incomes potential of its stars is but to achieve the astronomical ranges seen in world soccer or the NBA.

Breaking Down The Numbers

Athletes from eight completely different sports activities — soccer (soccer), basketball (NBA), boxing, golf, tennis, American Soccer (NFL), baseball (MLB), Method 1 (F1) — and 27 nations featured in the prime 100. The listing continues to be dominated by American athletes, with 64 representatives. The UK adopted with 5, whereas Japan and France had three every. Amongst crew sports activities, the NBA led the means with 36 gamers, adopted by the NFL with 22.

Golfers have considerably benefited from the emergence of LIV Golf, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund, leading to 9 golfers making the listing. Shohei Ohtani ($72.5 million) and Tiger Woods ($62.1 million) stood out as the solely two athletes who made extra from endorsements than from their main sports activities earnings.

The figures embody taxes and agent charges, Sportico clarifies. The earnings embody money paid out in 2024 in phrases of salaries and prize cash, and every kind of bonuses reminiscent of signing quantity, incentives, playoff and extra, moreover endorsement revenue together with that from sponsorships, royalties, licensing, memorabilia, appearances, and media and e book offers.

“Sportico linked with greater than 40 folks aware of on- and off-field athlete contracts, together with these at groups, leagues, gamers associations, sports activities companies, promotion companies and consultancies to find out the 100 highest paid,” the report mentioned.