Ronaldo tops world's highest-paid footballers list

Cristiano Ronaldo continues to top the list of the world's highest-paid footballers, leaving his longtime rival Lionel Messi far behind.

According to Forbes magazine, the Portuguese forward, who plays for Al Nassr, is expected to earn 267.3 million euros in the 2026/27 season, while the Argentine star of Inter Miami is projected to earn 129 million euros, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

Ronaldo, 41, receives around 222 million euros from his contract with the Saudi club, while another 44 million euros comes from sponsorships and commercial deals.

Meanwhile, Messi, 39, is expected to earn 62.4 million euros from Inter Miami, with the remaining 66.8 million euros coming from activities outside football.

According to Forbes, the two football legends continue to dominate the financial rankings. They are also the only two footballers on the list who have billionaire status.

The published figures show that the world's 10 highest-paid footballers are expected to generate a combined 839.4 million euros during the 2026/27 financial season, with Ronaldo and Messi accounting for almost half of that amount.

Ronaldo and Messi have topped the rankings for the fourth consecutive season and for the 12th time in the past 13 years.

Photo Instagram/cristiano