Cristiano Ronaldo Ahead of Lionel Messi As Forbes Releases List of 11 Highest Paid Players 2023

• Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest-paid player of 2023 as the Portuguese star earns around Cristiano $260million
• In the latest ranking by Forbes, Argentine legend Lionel Messi is the second with $135million
• Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are the two African players named on the shortlist

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest-paid player of 2o23 according to the latest Forbes ranking, considering the total on-field earnings of the superstar.

Forbes completed the ranking taking into account players’ salaries, bonuses, possible club-image rights, licencing, off-field estimates, as well as businesses operated by the players.

Last December, Ronaldo signed a staggering $200 million-per-year deal with Saudi Professional Football League club Al Nassr.

And last summer, MLS outfit Inter Miami announced signing Lionel Messi with a total contract value between $125m and $150m in cash alone.

The multiple Ballon d’Or winners are the highest-paid players in the world right now, while Neymar is third on the list as per Forbes.

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The Brazilian superstar signed yet another mega-buck deal, this time with Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia, as he is guaranteed $300 million, and up to $400 million based on commercial deals with the club.

Highest-paid players of 2023

1. Cristiano Ronaldo - $260 Million

2. Lionel Messi - $135 million

3. Neymar - $112 million

4. Kylian Mbappe - $110 million

5. Karim Benzema - $106 million

6. Erling Haaland - $58 million

7. Mohamed Salah - $53 million

8. Sadio Mane - $52 million

9. Kevin De Bruyne - $39 million

10. Harry Kane - $36 million

11. Robert Lewandowski ­- $34 million

Mbappe leads Europe’s highest-paid players

Sports Brief earlier reported that major European Leagues and Saudi Pro League transfer windows have closed, bringing an end to a crazy summer that saw a mass exodus of stars into the Middle Eastern country.

Kylian Mbappe remains top of the European wages list with a weekly salary of £1.18m per week.

The Frenchman turned down a world-record salary of €700m from Al-Hilal after Paris Saint-Germain made it clear he would be sold if he didn't renew his contract. Real Madrid were also in the picture, waiting to pounce.