Cristiano Ronaldo has been handed another Guinness World Record after overtaking Lionel Messi and setting a new world record for the highest annual paid athlete.
In January 2023, the former Real Madrid forward became the world’s most outstanding-paid Sportsman for the first time since 2017.
The former Juventus goal machine’s annual total paid from his new club side Al-Nassr saw him accomplish this achievement only for the third time in his outstanding career.
According to the latest chart released by Forbes magazine, the Portuguese International player has topped the list of the world’s highest-paid Sportsman, winning himself a Guinness World Record’s title for the highest yearly earnings for an athlete in the year 2023.
The former Manchester United player achieved this feat after earning himself the most international cap record on the 20th of June, 2023.
According to Guinness World Records, Ronaldo is expected to earn 136 Million dollars in the 12 months preceding 1 May 2023, the date by which most sports seasons will have been completed.
How Cristiano Ronaldo emerged as the world highest paid athlete
Cristiano Ronaldo has surpassed Messi as the highest-paid athlete in the world. The Portuguese will earn an estimated 136 million dollars in 2023.
The 38-year-old record-breaking football star’s earnings include 46 Million dollars in on-field income and 90 Million dollars in off-field payment.
Ronaldo departed Manchester United in November 2022 and joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr in January 2023, following what was, by his standards, an unimpressive second spell at Old Trafford.
Following his transfer to Saudi Arabia, It has been speculated that Cristiano Ronaldo now earns around 75 million dollars annually, which would be a very profitable move for him.
His off-field earnings are speculated to be far larger than his on-field ones. The Portuguese forward earns a significant sum from his CR7-branded stuff in addition to his lifetime contract with Nike.
The number of Guinness World Records held by Cristiano Ronaldo now stands at 16. The vast majority of these marks are set in terms of goals scored. Before calling it quits, the veteran will try to break one or two more records in football.
Athletes on-field earnings consist of their salary, prize money, and bonuses, while their off-field earnings include their anticipated sponsorship deals, appearance fees, memorabilia sales, licensing profits, and returns on investments in enterprises.
Money made by selling an athlete’s equity stake is included in these totals, but interest and dividends from investments are not.
When compiling their lists, Forbes included each athlete’s income from both on- and off-the-field sources.
However, football players dominate the top three spots for highest-paid athletes in the 2022–23 season.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s long-time rival Lionel Messi alongside Paris Saint Germain forward Kylian Mbappe are among the highest-paid athletes in 2023.
Messi earned a total of 130 million dollars, split evenly between on-field and off-field earnings, putting him in second place.
Mbappe, on the other hand, made 100 million dollars from playing soccer, which was a significant portion of his 120 million dollars salary.
On the other hand, in fourth place, LeBron James broke the record for the highest annual earnings for a basketball player with $119 million ($44.5 M on-court earnings, $75 million off-court earnings).
In fifth place, Canelo Alvarez set the record for the highest annual earnings for a boxer with $110 million ($100 million in ring earnings, $10 million outside).
What’s next for Cristiano Ronaldo?
The former Sporting Lisbon player will link up with his Al Nassr teammates ahead of their pre-season club friendlies against the likes of PSG, Inter Milan, and Celta De Vigo.
