Cristiano Ronaldo has done it again, and this time, in a bigger way than ever before.
The 41-year-old Portuguese football star has topped the Forbes list of the world’s highest-paid athletes for the fourth consecutive year and the sixth time in his career, earning an estimated $300 million over the past 12 months. His 2026 total is also his highest annual earnings figure to date.
Playing for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, Ronaldo earned an estimated $235 million from his salary and on-field income, while adding another $65 million from endorsements and other business activities. His $300 million figure matches Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s 2015 record for the highest annual earnings ever recorded for an active athlete by Forbes.
Ronaldo’s earnings were roughly $130 million higher than those of second-placed Canelo Álvarez, who earned $170 million. Argentine football legend Lionel Messi came third at $140 million, followed by LeBron James at $137.8 million and Shohei Ohtani at $127.6 million.
Football and basketball dominated the ranking, with three representatives each in the top 10. Collectively, the world’s 10 highest-paid athletes earned more than $1.4 billion during the season through salaries, prize money, sponsorships, licensing agreements, appearance fees, and business ventures.
Forbes tracked income earned between May 1, 2025, and May 1, 2026, drawing on conversations with dozens of industry executives, agents, and insiders.
At 41, Ronaldo is not just still playing, he is earning more than any athlete on the planet. A true record for the ages.
