No soccer players made more money than Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in 2025.
Although the next generation of superstars, including Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembélé, have taken center stage in soccer this year, the two greatest players of all time remain the highest paid. Ronaldo and Messi, who currently play for Al-Nassr and Inter Miami respectively, each earned a staggering amount of money in 2025.
From their salaries and winnings to their endorsement and commercial deals, the two superstars are in a league of their own when it comes to total earnings in the sport. In fact, only one other soccer player features in the list of the top 10 highest paid athletes of 2025.
Instead, representatives from the NBA, NFL, MLB and boxing all cracked the top 10. The high-profile champions combine for a whopping $1.4 billion in earnings over the last year, and every member on the list made over $100 million individually.
Check out the 10 superstars who earned the most money in 2025, per Forbes.
