From Kelce to Ronaldo: The Real Salary Figures of Sports Superstars
Travis Kelce’s recent two-year, 34.25 million dollar extension proves he plans to keep breaking tackles and bank records.
I’m Jaden Patel, your go-to critic for how professional athletes earn more for tossing balls than most of us make in a lifetime.
Imagine a world where catching a football pays better than catching up on your rent.
When the Kansas City Chiefs reopened their playbooks on July 22, tight end Travis Kelce was front and center at training camp. On the July 23 episode of the New Heights podcast, Kelce told his brother Jason that he was “ready to rock and roll” in his thirteenth NFL season. Fans had wondered if the 35-year-old might hang up his spikes after the Chiefs fell to the Eagles in the 2025 Super Bowl, but Kelce made it clear he’s sticking around—and cashing in.
Back in March 2024, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported that Kelce inked a two-year extension worth 34.25 million dollars. “I put in a lot of hard work,” Kelce said, emphasizing his commitment to Kansas City. That commitment doesn’t just show in his on-field hustle; it reflects a willingness to see his contract through, even as fans sweat through another football-less summer.
If you’re craving more payday drama, consider Patrick Mahomes and Steph Curry, whose six-figure monthly checks redefine normal jobs. Cristiano Ronaldo, though, remains the gold standard. After leaving Manchester United in 2022, he signed with Al-Nassr FC in Saudi Arabia for an annual salary reported to be around 200 million dollars, according to multiple outlets. In June 2025, he extended his deal by two more years, ensuring his bank account stays as full as his trophy case.
Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami CF also came with a pretty price tag. The MLS Players Association’s 2025 guide lists his average guaranteed compensation at more than 20.4 million dollars per season, including a base salary of 12 million dollars. Proof that even on American turf, football legends still command global money moves.
Then there’s the pay gap reality check. Forbes’ 2025 list of the top 50 highest-paid athletes had zero women in the mix. Alex Morgan, who retired from professional soccer in 2024, ranked 16th among female earners with an estimated 600,000 dollars on-field and 7 million dollars off-field last year. U.S. Soccer has equalized World Cup prize money for its men’s and women’s teams, but as long as endorsements and league paychecks linger far below the men’s game, the equality whistle won’t be blown.
So while you wait for the season openers, you can marvel at how sports salaries have turned literal athletic performance into a high-stakes financial sprint. It’s less about the Xs and Os and more about the zeros on paychecks.
That’s the score for now. Tune in next season to see which athlete signs the next blockbuster deal and how high the price tag climbs.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! Online, NFL Network Insiders (Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero), Forbes, MLS Players Association
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
