Cristiano Ronaldo edges out Lionel Messi to lead Forbes' football rich list for 2023

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring for Portugal against Slovakia in October 2023.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Cristiano Ronaldo sits on top of Forbes' football rich list for 2023 as the highest-paid footballer in the world this year – ahead of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

The Portuguese forward, who has been playing for Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr since January, leads the list with expected total earnings of $260 million.

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Ben Hayward
Weekend editor

Ben Hayward is the Weekend Editor of FourFourTwo. A European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.