Ronaldo's Income Exceeds Messi's by More Than Double

The rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi has been ongoing on the football field for years; however, in 2026, a significant gap is also seen between the two in another area: income. According to Sportico's list of the highest-paid footballers in the world, Ronaldo tops the list this year with an estimated income of $300 million, equivalent to about 1.10 billion dirhams; that is about $150 million more than Lionel Messi. Ronaldo, 41 years old and a player for Al Nassr, earns approximately $250 million from football activities and another $50 million from commercial contracts and off-field activities. On the other hand, Messi's income is estimated at around $150 million, equivalent to 550.8 million dirhams; $75 million from football and $75 million from commercial activities. Messi, 39 years old, continues to play for Inter Miami, and his contract has been extended until 2028. However, the story does not end with football contracts. Both stars are expanding their business activities. Messi has collaborations with companies such as Kalshi and OpenAI, while Ronaldo has signed contracts with Dreame and Lego and invested in the online streaming platform LiveModeTV. Messi has also recently acquired 100% ownership of the Spanish club UE Cornellà and previously owned the club CD Eldense. There have been speculations about Ronaldo potentially buying Al Nassr. Meanwhile, both stars are on the verge of making important decisions regarding the future of their national teams. According to reports, Argentina's match against Benin on October 7 at 3 AM UAE time will be Messi's last national game; a conclusion for the international career of a player who has the 2022 World Cup and Copa America titles in his resume. Ronaldo's future with the Portugal national team, however, remains uncertain; especially after his unexplained exit from the Portugal camp before the Nations League match against Denmark and speculations about his disagreement with Jorge Jesus, the national team coach. The football rivalry between these two legends may be nearing its final years, but in the income table for 2026, Ronaldo still stands $150 million ahead of Messi. Source: Gulf News