Huge Profits from Transfer to Saudi Arabia; Ronaldo Becomes the World's Highest-Paid Athlete

Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese football star, became the world's highest-paid athlete in 2023 following his transfer to the Saudi team Al-Nassr. According to CNN, Ronaldo's salary at Al-Nassr has nearly doubled, placing him at the top of Forbes' list. Ronaldo left Manchester United last January to join Al-Nassr, and despite rumors about a potential departure from the team, the five-time Champions League winner currently enjoys exceptional financial conditions. Forbes reports that besides his annual salary of $75 million at the club, Ronaldo has additional income from endorsements. The publication estimates that Ronaldo earned around $136 million in sports and advertising income last year, a figure that will certainly increase in the new year with his move to the Middle East. This is the first time since 2017 that Ronaldo has become the world's highest-paid athlete, narrowly surpassing his Argentine rival Lionel Messi, who earned $130 million last year. Following Ronaldo in Forbes' list are Kylian Mbappé, LeBron James, Canelo Alvarez, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Stephen Curry, Roger Federer, and Kevin Durant. Notably, there were no American athletes among the top 50 last year, but the situation has changed in the new list. Another significant point is the absence of female athletes among the top 10 earners, indicating a lack of gender equality in this field. Forbes' list is based on awards, salaries, bonuses, and commercial contracts outside of sports arenas. Although overall athlete earnings have increased globally, they are incomparable to the sums paid by oil-rich Middle Eastern countries. The list is published amid various reports about the potential transfer of Lionel Messi to Saudi Arabia. The Argentine star has not agreed to extend his contract with Paris Saint-Germain, and it remains unclear whether a return to his former Spanish club Barcelona is feasible. Saudi teams have long sought to sign Messi, and the likelihood of him moving to the Arab country for a staggering salary, similar to Ronaldo, is very high. Another serious option for him is Inter Miami in Florida, which could be a suitable destination. Artemis is preparing to play in the Robot Football World Cup. The Iranian Football Federation faces a $300,000 fine; Mehdi Taj states: we must not cheat again. A stone tablet announcing match results has been discovered in Mexico; it may change the history of football. Speculations about Messi's football future continue; a return to Barcelona or a move to Saudi Arabia. After 16 years, Amir Ghalenooyi returns to the Iranian national team bench. The battle for the ownership of Manchester United; the sellers are winners of this billion-dollar auction. An Iranian-American billionaire expresses interest in buying the English football team Tottenham.