Forbes publishes the list of players paid for 2023, who's first?

Ronaldo joined the Saudi Arabia club in January after leaving Manchester United last year, and despite rumours suggesting he is already seeking to move forward, five times the winner of the Champions League has reaped the financial benefits of his decision.

According to Forbes, Ronaldo has an estimated $75 million salary and has won a variety of marketing opportunities.

Forbes estimates that the 38-year-old has won $166m from income in the field and out of the field last year, a total increased by its Middle East movement.

Ronaldo tops the list of first - time sportsmen since 2017 and stands just ahead of fierce rival Lionel Messi in second place.

According to Forbes, Arginas earned $130m last year with his associate in Paris-Sant Germain, Kylian Mupé, with $120m.

The three football grand are closely followed by NBA legend LeBron James in fourth place, with revenues of $1 119.5 million, with Mexican boxer Canelo Álvarez filling up the top five with $110 million in revenue.

golfers Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson take sixth and seventh place, stressing the impact of the new LIV Golf series.

Both have lost sponsors since they joined the breakaway subset supported by Saudi Arabia.

Johnson secured the individual Inaugurator LeV Golf Championship last year and, according to Forbes, concluded the season at a better price than $36m in the tournament.

The American was not even the top 50 most paid athletes in 2022, but has now climbed to sixth place. Steph Curry, Roger Federer and Kevin Durant complete this year's top ten, comprised entirely of men, which is estimated between May 1st 2022 and May 1, 2023.

Forbes' estimates are based on price money, wages and rewards, as well as assessments of sponsorisation agreements and other income flows outside the field.

“The increased league agreements on media rights and increased opportunities outside the field have already increased athletes' salaries in recent years, but Middle Eastern money is pouring oil into the fire”, Forbes wrote, followed.

In total, the world's top ten paid athletes collected about $1.11 billion in front of the agents' taxes and fees over the past 12 months, 12% more than $990m last year, and 5% from the $1.06 billion record set at 2018.