(CNN) soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo He became the highest paid athlete in the world, with a transition to Victory Almost twice his salary, according to Forbes.

Ronaldo joined the Saudi club in January following his departure from Manchester United last year, and despite rumors that he is already looking to move on, the five-time Champions League winner has reaped the financial benefits of his decision.

According to Forbes, Ronaldo has an estimated $75 million US salary and has availed himself of a number of marketing opportunities.

Forbes estimates that the 38-year-old earned $136 million in both on and off field revenue last year, a total boosted by his move to the Middle East.

Ronaldo tops the list of richest athletes for the first time since 2017 and is directly ahead of his fierce rival Lionel Messi per second.

According to Forbes, the Argentine earned $130 million last year with his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe Behind $120 million.

The three football stars are closely followed by NBA legend LeBron James in fourth place, with revenues of $119.5 million, while Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez completes the top five with an income of $110 million.

Golfers Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson sit sixth and seventh, highlighting the impact of the new LIV Golf series.

Both have lost sponsors since joining the controversial Saudi-backed splinter group, but have managed to make up for it with bigger prize money.

Johnson secured The inaugural LIV Golf Solo Championship Last year, according to Forbes, he finished the season with $35.6 million in prize money.

The American was not even in the top 50 highest-paid athletes in 2022, but now he has jumped to sixth place.

Steve Curry, Roger Federer and Kevin Durant complete the year’s top 10, made up entirely of men, calculated between May 1, 2022 and May 1, 2023.

Forbes’ estimates are based on prize money, salaries, and bonuses as well as estimates of sponsorship deals and other revenue streams off the field.

“The skyrocketing league media rights agreements and increased off-field opportunities have sent athletes’ salaries skyrocketing in recent years, but Middle Eastern money is adding fuel to the fire,” Forbes wrote.

In all, the world’s 10 highest-paid athletes have collected an estimated $1.11 billion before taxes and agent fees over the past 12 months, up 12% from last year’s $990 million and 5% from the record $1.06 billion in 2018. .”