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Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly sensationally agreed a £173 million a year contract with Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr that would make him the biggest earner in the sport.
The 37-year-old had his contract with Manchester United terminated earlier this month after a tumultuous relationship with club chiefs that only worsened when he made some controversial statements in a TV interview with Piers Morgan.
And now Ronaldo is said to have agreed a two-and-a-half year contract with Al Nassr – worth an eye-watering £173 million a year – in which he will play until the age of 40, according to Spanish newspaper outlet Marca.
Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly agreed a £173 million a year deal with Saudi side Al Nassr
If he completes the move, Ronaldo’s eye-watering salary would make him the highest-earning person in the sport, according to Forbes.
In light of the Ronaldo news, Sportsmail looks at the top 10 highest earners across all sports, assuming the Portuguese superstar moves to Saudi Arabia.
We followed the official ‘Forbes Highest Paid Athletes 2022 List’which means there is no room for Kylian Mbappé.
However, after signing a stellar new PSG deal in May, the Frenchman will earn £107 million a year, so it is expected that he will be listed in 2023.
10. Giannis Antetokounmpo – £67.7 million a year
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the fourth basketball player to be in the top 10 highest earners
Antetokounmpo is the youngest member of this list at 27 years old and makes his trade for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Already one of the most decorated players in NBA history, the Greco-Nigerian basketball player last year led the Bucks to their first NBA title since 1971.
A movie about Antetokounmpo and his family was released in 2022 – he earns £67.7 million a year.
9. Tom Brady – £70.2 million a year
Tom Brady (center) still plays in the NFL and has won the Super Bowl seven times
Brady is a seven-time Super Bowl winner and still plying his craft at age 45.
The Tampay Bay Buccaneers quarterback is widely regarded as the greatest quarterback of all time – he earns £70.2 million a year.
8.Neymar Jr. – £72.8 million per annum
Neymar Jr. is PSG’s second player in the top 10, demonstrating the club’s financial strength
The Brazilian is the second PSG player on this list with Messi having joined the club in 2017 for a world record £200 million.
He has been tearing up European football since he first joined Barcelona in 2013 and has scored 115 goals in 164 PSG appearances, while scoring 75 in 122 for the Seleção – Neymar earns £72.8 million a year.
7. Canelo Alvarez – £75.3 million a year
Legendary Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez is world champion in four different weight divisions
Canelo has won multiple world titles in four different weight divisions from light middleweight to light heavyweight.
He has won 58 of his 62 fights, with only two defeats, while 39 of his wins have been via KO – the Mexican earns £75.3 million a year.
6. Roger Federer – £75.9 million a year
Despite announcing his retirement earlier this year, Roger Federer remains in the top 10 for 2022
The legendary tennis icon announced his retirement in September this year, but is still on this list.
Having won the Wimbledon title eight times, Federer has also been ranked world No. 1 for 237 consecutive weeks during his career – Federer earns £75.9 million a year.
5. Kevin Durant – £77 million a year
Kevin Durrant is another basketball player who is on the list of the 10 highest earning athletes
The Brooklyn Jets No. 7 Durant, two-time NBA winner, is another time-defining basketball player to feature on this list. He has made 12 appearances in the NBA All-Star game, despite being only 34, and earns £77 million a year.
4. Steph Curry – £77.6 million a year
Steph Curry is fourth behind fellow four-time NBA champion LeBron James
A point guard for the Golden State Warriors, Curry is another all-time basketball great.
Known as one of the best shooters in NBA history, he is credited with changing the sport by encouraging teams and players to hit more three-point shots.
Curry ranks fourth on the list and earns £77.6 million a year.
3. LeBron James – £101.4 million a year
Legendary basketball player LeBron James is a four-time NBA champion in the US
Basketball legends don’t get much bigger than LeBron James, with the 37-year-old having won four NBA titles in his career.
He is the first ever player to collect $1 billion in revenue as an active player in the league.
James is also a partner in Fenway Sports Group, meaning he co-owns several sports teams, including Liverpool – earning £101.4 million a year.
2. Lionel Messi – £103.4 million a year
Ronaldo would also overtake his great rival Lionel Messi by completing the move to Al-Nassr
Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Lionel Messi has won seven Ballon d’Or titles.
Messi, four-time winner of the Champions League, has scored 799 goals for club and country in 1,030 games.
The PSG star earns £103.4 million a year, meaning he currently tops the Forbes list, and he will be overshadowed in salary by his old rival Ronaldo.
1 – Cristiano Ronaldo – £172.9 million a year
If Ronaldo makes the move to Al-Nassr, he will become the highest paid athlete in the sport
Cristiano Ronaldo is a legendary footballer who has won 34 trophies in his career. He is also the all-time top scorer with 118 goals.
If he completes the move to Saudi Al Nassr, he will earn £172.9 million a year.
Ronaldo is currently third on the list of the highest paid athletes earning £83.6 million a year, meaning he will more than double his salary.