Cristiano Ronaldo has once again proven his global dominance both on and off the pitch, topping the Forbes list of the world’s highest-paid athletes for the fourth consecutive year.

At the age of 41, the Portugal superstar earned a staggering $300 million over the season — a historic figure that matches the all-time record previously set by boxing icon Floyd Mayweather. According to Spanish outlet AS, the Al-Nassr forward collected $235 million through his contract in Saudi Arabia, while an additional $65 million came from sponsorships, endorsements and commercial partnerships.

The financial power of football continues to shape the global sports landscape. Lionel Messi, now playing for Inter Miami, secured third place on the list with earnings of $140 million, while former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema also made the top 10 after another lucrative season with Al-Ittihad.

Saudi Arabia remains a major driving force behind the explosion of athlete salaries, with the kingdom’s investment in football continuing to transform the economics of world sport.

Top 10 Highest-Paid Athletes in the World — 2026 (Forbes)

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Football, Al-Nassr) — $300m ($235m salary + $65m endorsements)

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (Boxing) — $170m ($160m prize money + $10m endorsements)

Lionel Messi (Football, Inter Miami) — $140m ($70m salary + $70m endorsements)

LeBron James (Basketball) — $138m ($52m salary + $86m endorsements)

Shohei Ohtani (Baseball) — $127m ($2.6m salary + $125m endorsements)

Stephen Curry (Basketball) — $125m ($60m salary + $65m endorsements)

Jon Rahm (Golf) — $106m ($97m prize money + $9m endorsements)

Karim Benzema (Football, Al-Ittihad) — $104m ($100m salary + $4m endorsements)

Kevin Durant (Basketball) — $103m ($54m salary + $49m endorsements)

Lewis Hamilton (Formula 1) — $100m ($70m salary + $30m endorsements)