Professional sports is a lucrative industry, with the most popular sports in the world generating millions from fans who are shelling out their hard-earned money to either watch the games on-screen or live or purchase merchandise to show their support.
In turn, a significant amount of the revenue is rewarded to the athletes who are the very best at what they do. With that being said, who holds the ten most lucrative contracts in sports?
10. Francisco Lindor - New York Mets (10 years, 2022-2031): $341 million
The Puerto Rican shortstop agreed to stay with the Mets for the next decade after joining the team in 2021.
9. Manny Machado - San Diego Padres (11 years, 2023-2034): $350 million
The third baseman and shortstop already agreed to one of the largest contracts in sports in 2019, signing a 10-year, $300 million deal with San Diego. After Machado threatened to opt out of their current agreement if he wasn't given an extension, the Padres replaced their prior pact with an even more lucrative one.
8. Aaron Judge - New York Yankees - (19 years, 2023-2031): $360 million
The Yankees outfielder and five-time MLB All-Star even rejected an offer worth more than $400 million from the San Diego Padres to remain in New York.
6-tied. Mookie Betts - Los Angeles Dodgers (12 years, 2021-2032): $365 million
After acquiring him before the 2020 season and putting up a sensational debut year with the team by winning the World Series, the Dodgers secured the services of the outfielder for the next decade and more.
6-tied. Canelo Alvarez - DAZN (5 years, 2018-2023): $365 million
Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez signed with sports streaming service DAZN for the exclusive rights for his next 11 fights, but the deal was called off in 2020 after just three bouts following disagreements about the boxer's next opponent and dispute over the financial rewards. The undisputed super middleweight champion has continued to stage fights at DAZN on shorter-term deals.
5. Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels (12 years, 2019-2030): $426.5 million
Angeles outfielder Mike Trout signed the first $400 million contract in baseball history in 2019 to remain in Los Angeles beyond the next decade.
4. Karm Benzema - Al-Ittihad (2 years, 2023-2025): $436,336,818
French footballer and reigning Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema's deal with Saudi side Al-Ittihad pays him the same annual wage as former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, but his contract is six months shorter.
3. Patrick Mahomes - Kansas City Chiefs (10 years, 2022-2031): $450 million
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes agreed to the largest deal in American sports history by signing the record contract extension in 2020. In 2023, the Chiefs restructured the deal to give Mahomes even more money after the AAV of his old deal fell among recent quarterback contracts.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo - Al-Nassr (2.5 years, 2023-2025): $536,336,818
The first marquee signing by the Saudi Pro League, the Portuguese legend's deal with Saudi side Al-Nassr has the highest AAV of any deal in sports, netting him an astounding $214,534,727 per year.
1. Lionel Messi - FC Barcelona (4 years, 2017-2021): $673 million
Argentine icon Lionel Messi inked the richest deal in sports history to stay with his boyhood club for another four years in 2017. However, deep financial turmoil by Barca rendered them unable to offer Messi a new contract in 2021, causing him to move to Paris Saint-Germain unexpectedly.
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