Ronaldo Rules the Rich List: The Top 5 Highest-Paid Athletes Revealed
It's the perfect time in the sports world to be a premier athlete, and on Friday, Forbes officially released its annual list of the highest-paid superstars in sports.
Forbes listed the top 50 highest-paid athletes, and here are the first five on that list.
No. 1: Cristiano Ronaldo - $300 million
As expected, Ronaldo topped the rankings for the sixth time in the last 11 years and for the fourth consecutive year. The 41-year-old, who is likely preparing for what could be his final World Cup appearance with the Portugal national football team next month, reportedly earned an estimated $300 million over the past year before taxes, agent fees, and other deductions.
His current contract with Al Nassr accounts for roughly $235 million of that total, while the remaining $65 million comes from endorsements and various off-field business ventures.
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No. 2: Canelo Álvarez - $170 million
Interestingly enough, coming in at second is 35-year-old boxer Canelo Álvarez after coming to a deal with Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Season, which helped him accumulate roughly $160 million in-ring earnings.
With endorsements outside the ring, Álvarez added another $10 million. He also featured in one of the most high-profile boxing events of the last decade when he faced off against Terence Crawford last September in a bout that drew over 70,000 fans in attendance and nearly 41 million viewers on Netflix.
No. 3: Lionel Messi - $140 million
Following Álvarez, and in a spot many expected to be higher on the list, is Inter Miami's Lionel Messi, who is also likely preparing for what could be his final World Cup with Argentina.
Messi, like Ronaldo, remains a global icon but has a different earnings structure than most on the list. He currently plays in MLS, earning $70 million from his player contract, while also generating another $70 million off the field through endorsements with brands such as Adidas, Apple TV, Mastercard, and others.
No. 4: LeBron James - $137.8 million
Coming in at No. 4 on the list, the same age as Ronaldo, is Los Angeles Lakers superstar and soon-to-be unrestricted free agent LeBron James.
If James elects to return next season, it would mark his 24th NBA season - a milestone that would further cement his already historic career.
James continues to expand his business empire and off-court earnings, reportedly making about $30 million more off the court than on it through partnerships with Fenway Sports Group, along with endorsement deals with Nike, DraftKings, Richard Mille, and others.
He earned $85 million off the court, while his Lakers contract accounted for $52.8 million.
No. 5: Shohei Ohtani - $127.6 million
Rounding out the top five is Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, who earned an estimated $127.6 million over the past year despite a highly unusual contract structure.
Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers, but the contract is heavily backloaded. As a result, he was only paid $2.6 million on the field this season.
The remaining $125 million of his earnings came off the field through more than 20 endorsement deals across the United States and Japan.
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This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 2:04 PM.