Cristiano Ronaldo has retained his place as the world's highest earning athlete, according to sports finance experts Sportico.
The Al Nassr forward turned 40 last week and chose the occasion to state his claim to be the greatest footballer of all time.
In an interview with Spanish television channel La Sexta, Ronaldo proclaimed himself “the greatest scorer in history” and that he had “never seen anyone better than me”.
Ronaldo's self-confidence has never needed much of a lift, but perhaps earning $260 million in 2024 had something to do with it. That is how much the Portugal star took home thanks to his enormous $215m Al Nassr salary and a further $45m in endorsements.
According to Sportico, Ronaldo has earned more than $100m for eight consecutive years, while 2024 marked his second straight year in the $200m-plus bracket.
His incredibly lucrative switch to the kingdom has pushed his career earnings to more than $1.8 billion since his professional debut for Sporting Lisbon in 2002.
Working with brands such as Nike, Herbalife, Altice and Binance, Ronaldo also rakes in millions in sponsorship cash, with brands exploiting his status as the world's most followed person on social media – his follower count exceeded one billion last year, led by 649m on Instagram.
Saudi Arabia's drive into sport is evident throughout the top 10 earners, with six of them benefiting from Saudi pay checks in 2024.
NBA star Steph Curry ($153.8m), in second place, remains the top earner in the American market, with Lionel Messi ($135m) in fourth and LeBron James ($133.2m) fifth.
Former heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury ($147m) is third on the list, while Oleksandr Usyk – the man who beat him twice in Riyadh-hosted prizefights last year – is seventh ($122m).
Brazil star Neymar, whose disastrous spell in Saudi football with Al Hilal recently ended with a free transfer back to Santos, is in sixth place with his $108m salary supplemented by $25m of sponsorship revenue.
Al Ittihad striker Karim Benzema ($116m) is eighth, with his former France international teammate Kylian Mbappe in ninth ($116m). Mbappe, 26, is the youngest member of the top 10, and also the only athlete based in Europe. His haul was bolstered significantly by a free transfer from PSG to Real Madrid last summer.
The top 10 is rounded off by golfer Jon Rahm who made a money-spinning switch to Saudi Arabia's LIV golf in 2024.
There are no women in the top 100. NFL player Daniel Jones of the Minnesota Vikings earned $37.5m to take the final spot on the list, while the highest paid female athlete of last year was US tennis star Coco Gauff, who banked $30.4m.
Gauff's earnings were boosted when she picked up a record prize pot at the WTA Finals, hosted in Riyadh for the first time in 2024.
The steady flow of Saudi money can be seen throughout Sportico's top 100. Other footballers on the list from the Saudi Pro League include Al Ahli's Riyad Mahrez ($52m) and Al Nassr's Sadio Mane ($45.5m).
Messi might have turned down a huge offer from the kingdom to join Inter Miami, but he still pockets $25m from a partnership with Saudi Arabia's tourism authority.
The NBA (36 players) and NFL (22 players) make up nearly 60 per cent of the top 100, according to Sportico, with both leagues having raised their salary caps last year.
The breakdown by sport for other athletes in the top 100 was football (12), baseball (11), golf (nine), boxing (six), tennis (two) and Formula One (two). The US dominates the top 100 with 64 athletes – the UK is next with five athletes, followed by Japan and France with three each.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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The view from The National
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
