For the fourth consecutive year, Cristiano Ronaldo leads the ranking of the world’s highest-paid athletes in 2026.
At 41 years old, the Portuguese soccer player earns $300 million, according to the list compiled by Forbes.
Ronaldo, who plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia and is preparing to play in his sixth World Cup, earns a salary of $235 million. He also has earnings of US$65 million off the field from advertising contracts and other businesses.
Behind the Portuguese star is Canelo Álvarez, with the Mexican boxer earning $170 million, of which $160 million corresponds to fight prizes and $10 million from other businesses.
Lionel Messi occupies third place on the podium with earnings of $140 million, divided equally between salaries and other income from advertising deals.
The list includes another soccer player: Frenchman Karim Benzema, who also plays in Saudi Arabia. The French striker earns US$104 million, mainly from his US$100 million salary at Al-Hilal. He occupies 8th place on the list.
Soccer is therefore the most represented sport in this ranking, with 4 athletes. Basketball comes next, more specifically the NBA, with 3 basketball players who have dominated the courts in recent years: LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant.
In between we have Sohei Othan, a baseball player for the LA Dodgers, with earnings of US$127.6 million. And also a golfer (Jon Rahm) and an F1 driver (Lewis Hamilton).
Top 10 Highest Paid Athletes in the World 2026
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Soccer) $300 million
- Canelo Álvarez (Boxing) $170 million
- Lionel Messi (Soccer) $140 million
- LeBron James (Basketball) $137.8 million
- Sohei Ohtan (Baseball) $127.6 million
- Stephen Curry (Basketball) $124.7 million
- Jon Rahm (Golf) $107 million
- Karim Benzema (Soccer) $104 million
- Kevin Durant (Basketball) $103.8 million
- Lewis Hamilton (F1) $100 million