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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Kieran King

Top 10 highest-paid athletes as Cristiano Ronaldo pips Lionel Messi and Lewis Hamilton misses out

Cristiano Ronaldo Lionel Messi Lewis Hamilton LeBron James Kylian Mbappe Basketball Canelo Alvarez Dustin Johnson Kevin Durant Phil Mickelson

Cristiano Ronaldo has been named as the highest-paid athlete in Forbes' 2023 rich list.

Ronaldo, 38, has leapfrogged Lionel Messi and LeBron James into top spot following his big-money move to Al-Nassr at the start of the January transfer window. The former Manchester United star is pocketing around £175m-per-year in the Middle-East and is now the highest-paid athlete on the planet.

The Portuguese superstar has scored 12 goals and provided two assists in 12 Saudi Pro League matches since his switch to Saudi Arabia. However, reports have suggested that Ronaldo already wants to quit Al-Nassr, with Georgina Rodriguez 'desperate' for a return to Madrid.

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