Cristiano Ronaldo’s sensational return to Manchester United has seen him overtake Lionel Messi because the highest-paid footballer within the world, in step with the most recent rankings released by Forbes. Ronaldo is ready to earn $125 million before taxes within the 2021-22 season, with $70 million coming from salary and bonus for his return to United. The 36-year-old is about to earn an estimated $55m from commercial deals. Only three other active athletes make more commercially: Roger Federer ($90 million), LeBron James ($65 million) and Tiger Woods ($60 million).
Ronaldo left Juventus during a stunning recede to United, where he had spent six years from 2003 to 2009. The Portugal star also broke the planet record for many international goals this year, going past Iranian Ali Daei’s previous record of 109 goals.
Ronaldo’s Argentine rival Lionel Messi will earn $110m this season, with $75m of that figure coming from his salary and bonuses at the Parc des Princes, as per Forbes. the previous Barcelona star will add an estimated $35 million in endorsements.
Messi joined PSG as a free agent this summer after Barcelona, where he had spent 20 years, were unable to increase his contract because of financial constraints.
PSG now claim three of the world’s five highest-paid players, including the 29-year-old Neymar, who lands at No. 3 another time with $95 million, and therefore the 22-year-old Kylian Mbappe, who is No. 4 with $43 million.
In total, the ten highest-paid footballers are set to gather pre-tax earnings of around $585m this season, up from last year’s total of around $570m.
