Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi once again top a ranking — but this time, it’s off the pitch. The Portuguese star has been named the highest-paid soccer player of the year, edging out his long-time rival Messi, leaving fans wondering who completes the podium alongside the two icons.

According to financial magazine Forbes, Cristiano Ronaldo is set to earn $230 million with Al Nassr during the 2025–26 season, plus an additional $50 million from endorsements. That brings his total projected income to $280 million, marking the sixth time in the past decade that he tops the list of the world’s highest-paid footballers.

Lionel Messi, Ronaldo’s all-time counterpart, ranks second among soccer’s top earners with an estimated $130 million in total income — about $60 million from his contract wi

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