Cristiano Ronaldo has once again claimed his position as the world's highest-paid athlete in 2024, pulling in a staggering $260 million according to Al Jazeera and other sources. Notably, there was a glaring absence of female athletes in the top 100 rankings.

The combined earnings of the top 100 athletes reached approximately $6.2 billion, encompassing around $4.8 billion in salaries and prize money, alongside $1.4 billion from endorsements. Despite strong female representatives in sports, such as former U.S. Open tennis champion Coco Gauff, who earned $30.4 million in 2024, it was not enough to place her among the top 100. This is especially significant as Gauff's earnings fell short of the entry threshold represented by Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daniel Jones, at $37.5 million for the 100th position

Ronaldo's remarkable earnings stem primarily from his lucrative contract with the Saudi Arabian football team, Al-Nassr, which he joined in December 2022. According to Reuters, Ronaldo's income was bolstered with $215 million from his salary and $45 million from endorsements, sustaining his dominance for a second consecutive year.

In stark contrast, NBA's Stephen Curry ranked second with $153.8 million, followed by heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury at $147 million. The list also featured Lionel Messi at $135 million and LeBron James at $133.2 million—the only 40-year-old still active in the NBA.

The top 100 roster includes athletes from eight different sports and representatives from 27 countries, highlighting a diverse competitive landscape. However, it's concerning that female athletes, especially in light of previous years where champions like Naomi Osaka earned over $57 million last year, struggle to secure spots in elite earnings rankings; Osaka was noted as the highest-paid female athlete in 2022, underscoring the dropping visibility and compensation of women in sports fields.

Gauff, only 20 years old and already a high-earner, could potentially rise in future rankings, similar to long-retired icons like Serena Williams, who made $41.8 million in 2021, further asserting the deserving recognition for female athletes in the sports sector. For more details, refer to Channel News Asia.