Top Paid Athletes in 2025
According to the latest Forbes list, Cristiano Ronaldo leads the highest paid athletes in 2025 with estimated total earnings above $275 million, combining salary, bonuses, and off field income from his club contract and business ventures. Lionel Messi follows closely, with earnings driven by his MLS salary and global endorsement portfolio, while other top earners include stars from basketball, football, and mixed martial arts leaguesForbes athlete earnings.
The 2025 rankings show that soccer and basketball players dominate the top tier, with multiple athletes from the NBA, Premier League, and La Liga appearing in the top ten. These figures combine guaranteed pay, performance bonuses, and off field income from sponsorships, media rights, and business investmentsForbes highest paid athletes 2025.
Highest Paid Leagues and Teams
In North America, the NBA and NFL consistently produce the largest guaranteed paychecks, with top players signing contracts worth over $50 million per season and max contracts pushing total earnings above $60 million annually. In soccer, Saudi Pro League clubs have increased the average salary for top international players, while European leagues such as the Premier League and La Liga continue to pay record wages to star athletesESPN soccer salaries.
Team payrolls reflect these individual earnings, with the highest paid teams in the NBA, NFL, and Major League Baseball spending hundreds of millions on player contracts each season. In soccer, clubs such as Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Al Hilal regularly rank among the highest spending teams in terms of wage bills and transfer feesTransfermarkt salary data.
Earnings Breakdown by Sport and Income Source
Baseball, basketball, and soccer lead in average salary, with MLB, NBA, and top European soccer leagues paying the highest median wages among major professional sports. In the NBA, the average salary exceeds $10 million per player, while top NFL quarterbacks earn more than $50 million per season, and MLS stars such as Messi earn over $50 million per year from salary and endorsementsNBA salary data.
Off field income from endorsements, media rights, and business investments often doubles or triples an athlete's total earnings, with top names earning more from sponsorships than from their sport. Companies such as Nike, Adidas, and Red Bull invest heavily in athlete partnerships, while leagues and media companies pay billions for broadcast rights that increase player salaries and league revenueSEC company filings.