Cristiano Ronaldo has become the world’s highest-paid athlete for 2026, according to Forbes, after earning an estimated $300 million over the past 12 months.
The 41-year-old Portuguese soccer star topped the Forbes list for the fourth year in a row and the sixth time in his career. His latest total is also his highest annual earnings figure so far.
Ronaldo, who plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, earned an estimated $235 million from his salary and on-field income. He also made about $65 million from endorsements and other business activities.
Forbes said Ronaldo is expanding his interests beyond the field. In February, he acquired a 25 percent stake in UD Almería, a Spanish second-division club, signaling a growing move toward football ownership.
Ronaldo’s commercial strength remains significant. Forbes noted that he has more than one billion social media followers and sponsorship deals with Binance, Nike and Perplexity.
Herbalife also said during its fourth-quarter earnings call that Ronaldo invested $7.5 million in its health tech subsidiary, HBL Pro2col Software LLC. The company’s shares rose 18 percent the following day.
The Forbes ranking shows how leading athletes are earning major sums from contracts, prize money, endorsements, investments and personal brands.
Mexican boxer Canelo Álvarez ranked second with estimated earnings of $170 million. Lionel Messi came third with $140 million, followed by NBA star LeBron James.
Shohei Ohtani ranked fifth on the list, followed by Stephen Curry in sixth place. Jon Rahm placed seventh, while Karim Benzema, Kevin Durant and Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top 10.
Soccer and basketball had the strongest presence in the ranking, with three athletes each. Ronaldo, Messi and Benzema represented soccer, while James, Curry and Durant represented basketball. Boxing, baseball, golf and Formula 1 each had one athlete on the list.
Overall, Forbes’ 2026 list highlights the continued earning power of veteran sports stars, with long-term success, global recognition and commercial appeal playing a major role in athlete income.
Forbes’ 10 Highest-Paid Athletes in 2026
| Rank | Athlete | Sport | Estimated Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Soccer | $300 million |
| 2 | Canelo Álvarez | Boxing | $170 million |
| 3 | Lionel Messi | Soccer | $140 million |
| 4 | LeBron James | Basketball | $137.8 million |
| 5 | Shohei Ohtani | Baseball | $127.6 million |
| 6 | Stephen Curry | Basketball | $124.7 million |
| 7 | Jon Rahm | Golf | $107 million |
| 8 | Karim Benzema | Soccer | $104 million |
| 9 | Kevin Durant | Basketball | $103.8 million |
| 10 | Lewis Hamilton | Formula 1 | $100 million |
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