Cristiano Ronaldo adjudged highest-paid footballer ahead of Lionel Messi as breakdown of his on-field and off-field earnings come to light 

Cristiano Ronaldo is ahead of Lionel Messi on Fobes' list (published in May 2023) of the highest-paid athletes in the world. The Portuguese superstar is the number 1 on the list.

The stats cover the earnings made by the players between May 2022 and May 2023. Ronaldo leads the chart with an astounding $136 million. The Portuguese reportedly made $46 million as on-field earnings and $90 million off the field.

Lionel Messi is a close second on the list with $130 million as his total earnings in that period. He made $65 million on the field and $65 million off it. It's worth noting that Messi won the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Argentina in that timespan. Kylian Mbappe, meanwhile, is third with an earning of $120 million.

NBA superstar LeBron James is a close fourth on the list with $119.5 million in earnings. Boxing ace Canelo Alvarez is fifth with $110 million. Golf's Dustin Johnson ($107 million) and Phil Mickelson ($106 million), NBA superstar Steph Curry ($100.4 million), Tennis superstar Roger Federer ($95 million) and NBA superstar Kevin Durant ($89.1 million) complete the top-10.

Checkout the highest paid athletes for each individual sports:

The list calculates earnings made by athletes on and off the pitch. Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly earns a mega £173 million reported salary from Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr. Hence, his leading the chart isn't surprising.

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Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's earnings in 2023

Sportico released a list revealing the details of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's total earnings in 2023. Ronaldo, by virtue of his mega £173 million per year salary, pocketed an astonishing £218 million last year (including sponsorship earnings).

Lionel Messi, meanwhile, is third on the list, behind second-placed Jon Rahm (Golf). Messi, who earns an estimated £52 million per year salary from Inter Miami, finished 2023 with a total earning of £103 million.

Ronaldo and Messi's positions show that the two superstars are not only setting the standards on the field but also in terms of their financial earnings.