The financial landscape of professional sports has been completely redefined in 2024, ushering in an era of unprecedented contracts that eclipse the billion-dollar mark when considering total potential earnings. As of December 2025, the record for the single largest contract by total value has been shattered, driven primarily by the massive, long-term deals seen in Major League Baseball (MLB) and the astronomical figures paid in global football.
This list is a definitive, up-to-date ranking of the biggest guaranteed contracts and total package deals in sports history. The figures below represent the total value of the contract signed between the athlete and the team, showcasing the staggering sums teams are willing to pay for generational talent and the massive shift in player power across the MLB, NFL, NBA, and international soccer leagues.
The Top 10 Highest Sports Contracts by Total Value (2024 Record-Breakers)
The latest deals have firmly established baseball as the sport with the highest total contract values, largely due to the lack of a hard salary cap and the long-term nature of MLB contracts, which can span over a decade. The top two spots are now dominated by two of the sport's biggest international stars.
- Juan Soto (MLB): $765 Million
- Sport/League: Baseball (MLB)
- Team: New York Mets
- Duration: 15 Years
- Year Signed: 2024
The new undisputed king of sports contracts, Juan Soto’s $765 million deal with the New York Mets is the first to officially break the $700 million barrier for a single athlete contract. Signed in 2024, the contract is a long-term investment in one of baseball's most electrifying young hitters, resetting the market for future superstars.
- Shohei Ohtani (MLB): $700 Million
- Sport/League: Baseball (MLB)
- Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
- Duration: 10 Years
- Year Signed: 2023
Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million contract, signed in late 2023, was the largest in sports history for a few short months until Soto's deal. Ohtani's contract is groundbreaking not just for its total value, but for its unique structure: a massive deferral of $680 million until after the contract ends, allowing the Dodgers significant salary cap flexibility.
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Soccer): ~$676 Million (Total Package)
- Sport/League: Association Football (Saudi Pro League)
- Team: Al Nassr
- Duration: 2.5 Years (Initial Contract)
- Year Signed: 2023
While the guaranteed on-field salary is lower than the total contract value, Cristiano Ronaldo's deal with Al Nassr is reported to be worth up to $676 million when factoring in all commercial, image rights, and ambassadorial duties. This deal is less about longevity and more about the highest annual earnings, as he was the world's highest-paid athlete in 2024 with earnings totaling $260 million.
- Lionel Messi (Soccer): $674 Million
- Sport/League: Association Football (La Liga)
- Team: FC Barcelona
- Duration: 4 Years
- Year Signed: 2017
Lionel Messi's final contract with FC Barcelona, which ran from 2017 to 2021, remains one of the largest in sports history, with a staggering total value of $674 million. This contract, which was leaked in 2021, revealed the immense financial pressures and spending power of European football giants before the recent surge in MLB contracts.
- Patrick Mahomes (NFL): $450 Million
- Sport/League: American Football (NFL)
- Team: Kansas City Chiefs
- Duration: 10 Years
- Year Signed: 2020
The largest contract in NFL history belongs to quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Signed in 2020, his 10-year, $450 million extension was the first half-billion-dollar deal in American team sports at the time of signing. While other quarterbacks have since surpassed his *annual* average, his total value remains a benchmark for the sport.
- Mike Trout (MLB): $426.5 Million
- Sport/League: Baseball (MLB)
- Team: Los Angeles Angels
- Duration: 12 Years
- Year Signed: 2019
Mike Trout's 2019 extension set the record for the largest contract in baseball history at the time. His 12-year, $426.5 million deal was a landmark agreement that signaled the beginning of the current era of massive MLB contracts.
- Mookie Betts (MLB): $365 Million
- Sport/League: Baseball (MLB)
- Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
- Duration: 12 Years
- Year Signed: 2020
Mookie Betts, another Dodgers star, signed a $365 million extension in 2020, further cementing MLB's dominance in total contract value. This deal, along with Trout’s, showcased the long-term commitment teams are willing to make to MVP-caliber players.
- Aaron Judge (MLB): $360 Million
- Sport/League: Baseball (MLB)
- Team: New York Yankees
- Duration: 9 Years
- Year Signed: 2022
Aaron Judge’s $360 million contract with the New York Yankees is another recent deal that broke the $300 million threshold. The average annual value of this contract is extremely high, reflecting his status as one of the game's elite power hitters.
- Francisco Lindor (MLB): $341 Million
- Sport/League: Baseball (MLB)
- Team: New York Mets
- Duration: 10 Years
- Year Signed: 2021
- Fernando Tatis Jr. (MLB): $340 Million
- Sport/League: Baseball (MLB)
- Team: San Diego Padres
- Duration: 14 Years
- Year Signed: 2021
The New Metric: Highest Annual Salary vs. Total Value
While the total value list is dominated by MLB due to contract length, a different picture emerges when analyzing the highest average annual value (AAV) or the highest total annual earnings, which include endorsements and commercial deals. This metric often highlights the financial power of global sports like soccer and golf.
The Rise of the Annual Earnings King
The highest-paid athlete in the world in 2024, based on total annual earnings (salary plus endorsements), was Cristiano Ronaldo, with a staggering figure of $260 million. This demonstrates the immense commercial value and global reach of a superstar like Ronaldo, whose income far surpasses his on-field salary alone. Other top annual earners include golfer Jon Rahm ($218 million) and soccer star Lionel Messi ($135 million), both benefiting from lucrative deals with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf and MLS/commercial ventures, respectively.
Record-Breaking Annual Average Value (AAV)
AAV provides a better measure of a player's worth on a year-to-year basis, often used in salary cap discussions. Shohei Ohtani's $70 million AAV is technically the highest for a baseball player, but the unique deferral structure means he is only receiving $2 million annually during the contract term. This has led to intense debate about how to define the "richest" contract.
In the NFL, the AAV for quarterbacks is constantly being reset, with figures now routinely exceeding $50 million per year, reflecting the scarcity and importance of the position. Similarly, the NBA sees massive AAVs, such as Jayson Tatum's 2024 extension, which is valued at $315 million over five years, pushing his AAV over $60 million.
Shifting Sports Economics: Why Contracts Keep Growing
The continuous escalation of sports contracts is not accidental; it is driven by a confluence of powerful economic factors that show no sign of slowing down. Understanding these entities provides a clear picture of why a $765 million contract is now a reality.
The Impact of Global Media Rights and Revenue
The primary fuel for these massive contracts is the exponential growth in global media rights deals. Leagues like the MLB, NFL, and NBA sign multi-billion dollar television and streaming contracts, which in turn increase the league's overall revenue. Player salaries, which are often tied to a percentage of this revenue (the "salary cap" in some leagues), naturally rise in tandem. The NFL, for example, has seen its salary cap surge, allowing teams like the Kansas City Chiefs to justify the $450 million commitment to Patrick Mahomes.
The 'Uncapped' Market of Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is unique among major American sports in that it does not have a hard salary cap. This allows high-revenue teams like the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers to spend freely, leading to the record-breaking, long-term contracts seen with Juan Soto, Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, and Mookie Betts. The length of these contracts (often 10-15 years) is what drives the total value so high, making it difficult for other sports to compete on this specific metric.
The Rise of Sovereign Wealth Funds
The emergence of sovereign wealth funds and Middle Eastern investment in sports has dramatically altered the financial landscape, particularly in soccer and golf. The massive contracts offered to players like Cristiano Ronaldo and the high payouts to golfers like Jon Rahm are direct results of this new, deep-pocketed financial entity entering the market. These deals often include ambassadorial roles, which inflate the total package value far beyond the traditional on-field salary, blurring the lines between a sports contract and a commercial partnership.
