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Inside The $4.1 Billion Haul By 2026’s 50 Highest-Paid Athletes
Forbes said endorsements, appearances and business deals pushed 10 athletes past $100 million, with Cristiano Ronaldo leading at $300 million.
- On Friday, Forbes released its 2026 list of the world's 50 highest-paid athletes, with international soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo maintaining his top ranking for the fourth consecutive year.
- Forbes reports the top 50 competitors combined to earn $4.1 billion over the past 12 months, with a record $1.1 billion generated off the field from endorsements, memorabilia, and other business ventures.
- Green Bay Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons emerged as the NFL's top-paid player with $86.4 million, marking a historic shift as quarterbacks no longer dominate the league's top earnings spot.
- Rounding out the leaders, boxer Canelo Alvarez secured second place with $170 million, followed by soccer star Lionel Messi at $140 million and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James at $137.8 million.
- Basketball continues to dominate the annual earnings ranking, with 26 athletes on the list under 30 years old and the United States leading with 29 total representatives.
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The magazine specializing in business and finance explained that there is still a huge gap between male and female sports.
Forbes magazine gave its list of the top 10 top-paid athletes of the last year, led by Cristiano Ronaldo and followed by Canelo. Although he has not fought since September last year, Mexican boxer Saúl Álvarez is the second highest-income athlete in the last 12 months. Tricolor defeated William Scull on May 3, 2025 and then lost to Terence Crawford on September 13 of the same year, and thanks to his multi-year contract with promoter Riyadh Seaso…
For the fourth time in a row.
Detroit Free PressReposted by 
USA Today
USA TodayCristiano Ronaldo tops Forbes' list of highest-paid athletes
·Detroit, United States
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Total News Sources13
Leaning Left5Leaning Right0Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution63% Left
Bias Distribution
- 63% of the sources lean Left
63% Left
L 63%
C 37%
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