A few hours after conquering Saudi Arabia as the Al Nassr captain, Cristiano Ronaldo has achieved a personal milestone, claiming the top spot on Forbes’ 2026 list of the world’s highest-paid athletes. The Portuguese football legend has earned more than $300 million over the past 12 months to retain the top spot.
Ronaldo has been the world’s highest-paid athlete for the fourth straight year. In fact, it was the sixth time that the Real Madrid icon has topped Forbes’ list, equalling the record of Michael Jordan for the most No. 1 finishes. Only Tiger Woods remains ahead of the duo with 11 top finishes.
Cristiano Ronaldo Sets Earning Record As A Soccer Player
Having breached the $300-million mark, Ronaldo matched the earnings record of boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. from 2015 for the largest for an active athlete ever tracked by Forbes. No other soccer player has been able to reach the milestone. Another legend of the generation, Lionel Messi, remains third on the list with an estimated earnings of $140 million.
Who Are The Oldest And Youngest Athletes on Forbes Top 50 List?
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the oldest athletes to feature on Forbes annual list of the world’s highest-paid athletes for 2026. Ferrari Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton and Lakers forward LeBron James also make the cut as 41-year-olds. Tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz is the youngest on the list.
Ronaldo Becomes World’s Highest-Paid Athlete: Check Forbes Top 10 List
| Rank | Athlete | Sport | Country | Estimated Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Soccer | Portugal | $300M |
| 2 | Canelo Álvarez | Boxing | Mexico | $170M |
| 3 | Lionel Messi | Soccer | Argentina | $140M |
| 4 | LeBron James | Basketball | USA | $137.8M |
| 5 | Shohei Ohtani | Baseball | Japan | $127.6M |
| 6 | Stephen Curry | Basketball | USA | $124.7M |
| 7 | Jon Rahm | Golf | Spain | $107M |
| 8 | Karim Benzema | Soccer | France | $104M |
| 9 | Kevin Durant | Basketball | USA | $103.8M |
| 10 | Lewis Hamilton | Auto Racing | UK | $100M |
What’s Next for Cristiano Ronaldo?
Having won the Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr, Ronaldo ended his long wait for the first major trophy in the Middle East. He scored a brace in the decisive last game against Damac as Al Nassr celebrated their triumph with the home fans in Riyadh. Now that the club season is over, Ronaldo will shift his focus to national duties, leading Portugal in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
