Ronaldo leads 2024 earnings « Euro Weekly News

Cristiano Ronaldo has once again dominated the world of sports finance, topping the list of highest-paid athletes in 2024 with a staggering $260 million in earnings. However, not a single female athlete made it into the top 100, highlighting the persistent pay gap in professional sports.

Cristiano Ronaldo dominates 2024 earnings, leaving rivals far behind

At 40 years old, Ronaldo continues to redefine longevity in football, raking in an incredible $215 million from salary and winnings at Al-Nassr and with the Portugal national team. His off-the-field endorsements added another $45 million, securing him the top spot by a wide margin.

Since moving to Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo has thrived, scoring 82 goals in 90 games and becoming the first player to reach 900 career goals in September 2023. He is one of three footballers in the top 10, joined by Neymar and Karim Benzema, both of whom also made lucrative moves to the Saudi Pro League.

Coming in second, NBA superstar Steph Curry earned an estimated $153.8 million, with a significant portion—$100 million—coming from endorsements. Despite the Golden State Warriors’ struggles, Curry played a key role in Team USA’s gold medal win at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

British boxer Tyson Fury secured the third spot on the list with $147 million in earnings, while Lionel Messi followed closely behind in fourth place with $135 million, largely thanks to $75 million in endorsements after his move to Inter Miami. Despite the Los Angeles Lakers’ struggles, LeBron James rounded out the top five, earning $133.2 million over the year.

Further down the ranking, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was the highest-earning NFL player, finishing in 12th place with $100.4 million. Meanwhile, Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts landed in 65th place with $46.1 million.

In total, the top 100 athletes in 2024 earned a staggering $6.2 billion, with $4.8 billion coming from salaries and prize money, while $1.4 billion came from endorsements and sponsorship deals.

No women in 2024’s top 100: The gender pay gap in sports remains stark

Despite the soaring earnings of male athletes, not a single female athlete made the cut. The highest-paid woman in 2024, US tennis star Coco Gauff, earned $30.4 million, mostly from her French Open doubles victory and WTA Finals singles title. For comparison, the 100th athlete on the list, NFL quarterback Daniel Jones, earned $37.5 million.

Gauff still made history as Team USA’s youngest-ever Olympic flag bearer and the first tennis player to carry the American flag. However, the absence of women in the top 100 raises serious questions about gender pay disparities in professional sports, despite growing audiences and sponsorship deals for women’s competitions.

As sponsorship and TV deals continue to evolve, the hope is that future rankings will reflect a more balanced playing field—but for now, the gap remains as wide as ever.

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