Juan Soto signed a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets, making him the highest-paid athlete in sports history. His deal surpasses Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, although Ohtani’s $70 million yearly average remains higher due to deferred payments.

Soto’s contract highlights the earning potential in baseball, where there’s no salary cap, unlike the NBA and NFL. In comparison, the NBA’s highest-paid player, Jaylen Brown, earns $57.1 million annually, while NFL star Patrick Mahomes’ 10-year, $450 million deal averages $45 million per year.

Soto’s earnings still fall short of Cristiano Ronaldo’s £200 million annual salary from Saudi club Al Nassr. Lionel Messi’s final Barcelona contract set a financial gold standard, worth $674 million, but it contributed to Barcelona’s financial troubles. The Mets hope Soto’s historic deal won’t lead to similar challenges.