The 2026 edition of Forbes’ annual ranking of the world’s highest-paid athletes confirms another dominant year for veteran global superstars, with total earnings across the top 10 reaching approximately $1.4 billion.
At the top once again is Cristiano Ronaldo, who remains the highest-paid athlete in the world for the fourth consecutive year and the sixth time overall. The 41-year-old earned an estimated $300 million over the past 12 months, combining a $235 million salary from Al-Nassr with around $65 million in endorsements and business income.
Historic earnings across global sport
The ranking highlights a continued concentration of wealth among elite stars in football, basketball, boxing, golf, Formula 1, and baseball. Every athlete in the top 10 earned at least $100 million, marking the third consecutive year this threshold has been reached.
Key figures include:
- Canelo Álvarez — $170 million
- Lionel Messi — $140 million
- LeBron James — $137.8 million
- Shohei Ohtani — $127.6 million
- Stephen Curry — $124.7 million
- Lewis Hamilton — $100 million
Collectively, the top 10 athletes generated $902 million on-field and $513 million off-field, underscoring how sponsorships and commercial ventures are now nearly as important as playing contracts.
Saudi influence continues to shape earnings
A major storyline in the report is the continued impact of Saudi-backed sports investment, particularly in football and boxing. Several athletes, including Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Canelo Álvarez, have seen significant income boosts through contracts linked to Saudi organizations.
Older superstars dominate the financial peak
The average age of the top 10 is 37, the oldest in Forbes history, highlighting how global sports earnings are increasingly dominated by long-established superstars rather than emerging athletes.
Players like Ronaldo, LeBron James, and Hamilton continue to generate elite-level income well into their 40s, driven by global branding power and long-term commercial appeal.
Ohtani leads off-field earnings
While Ronaldo tops the overall list, Shohei Ohtani leads in off-field income with approximately $125 million from endorsements, reflecting the growing commercial power of global baseball stars in Asia and the United States.
A changing global sports economy
Forbes’ methodology tracks earnings between May 1, 2025, and May 1, 2026. The findings show a clear shift: today’s top athletes function less as purely sports figures and more as global entertainment brands, with income streams spanning media, business ownership, sponsorships, and investment portfolios.