Highest Paid Athlete in 2025
The highest sports salary in 2025 belongs to Cristiano Ronaldo, whose reported on-field earnings exceed $260 million annually with Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. Forbes lists Ronaldo as the top-earning athlete globally, ahead of Lionel Messi and Lionel Messi's reported $130 million annual package with Inter Miami and MLS. Ronaldo's contract includes a massive base salary, performance bonuses, and commercial income from sponsorships and his social media reach, which drives his total income far above league minimums and average player wages.
Ronaldo's move to Saudi Arabia in 2023 reshaped the global salary landscape in professional sports, pushing the highest sports salary into a new tier that combines football wages with brand partnerships and regional investment incentives. His annual earnings package is widely reported by Forbes and other financial outlets as the benchmark for athlete compensation, reflecting both on-field performance and off-field commercial value across multiple markets and platforms.
Top 5 Highest Sports Salaries by League
In the NBA, the highest sports salary in 2025 belongs to Stephen Curry, who earns over $55 million per season with the Golden State Warriors under his current max contract extension. In the NFL, the highest-paid player is quarterback Dak Prescott, whose average annual salary exceeds $49 million with the Dallas Cowboys, making him the top earner in American football by guaranteed money and total compensation structure.
In the Premier League, Cristiano Ronaldo's reported weekly wage with Al Nassr translates to an annual figure that surpasses most European football salaries, while in MLB, Shohei Ohtani's contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers includes a record-breaking $700 million deal spanning 10 years, with an average annual value exceeding $70 million. In Formula 1, Max Verstappen's salary with Red Bull Racing is estimated at over $50 million per year, placing him among the top earners in motorsport and highlighting how the highest sports salary spans multiple disciplines and leagues worldwide.
How the Highest Sports Salary Is Calculated
Base salary, guaranteed money, performance bonuses, and off-field income from endorsements and business ventures are combined to determine the highest sports salary in official rankings. Forbes and Sportico use total income estimates that include salary, signing bonuses, equity stakes, and sponsorship deals to rank athletes, while leagues like the NBA and NFL publish salary cap data and average annual value figures that show how contracts are structured over their full duration.
Taxes, currency exchange rates, and contract structures such as deferred payments and incentive triggers can change the effective value of the highest sports salary for players competing in different countries and leagues. The SEC filings and public disclosures for publicly traded sports organizations and athlete-backed businesses provide additional details on compensation, equity, and revenue sharing that help explain how top earners build income streams beyond their playing contracts.