If the NBA opened up their contract and salary cap rules, we'd see some truly bonkers numbers.

I remember a player value estimate that 538 used to publish and even 10 years ago the top players were worth over $100M per year.

Undisciplined

With Ronaldo Al Nassr deal, he will always top this list till he retire or should he leave to another club.

On field 2.6 is the most incredible, Dodgers dis magic there

WeAreAllSatoshi

For the fourth year in a row, and the sixth time overall, Ronaldo 

https://www.forbes.com/lists/athletes/

, racking up an estimated $300 million over the past 12 months before taxes and agent fees. The total includes an estimated $235 million from his playing contract with Al-Nassr as well as $65 million from endorsements, appearances, licensing, memorabilia and other business endeavors.

The World’s 10 Highest-Paid Athletes 2026

Sport: Soccer | Age: 41 | Nationality: Portugal | On-Field: $235 million • Off-Field: $65 million

Sport: Boxing | Age: 35 | Nationality: Mexico | On-Field: $160 million • Off-Field: $10 million

Sport: Soccer | Age: 38 | Nationality: Argentina | On-Field: $70 million • Off-Field: $70 million

Sport: Basketball | Age: 41 | Nationality: U.S. | On-Field: $52.8 million • Off-Field: $85 million

Sport: Baseball | Age: 31 | Nationality: Japan | On-Field: $2.6 million • Off-Field: $125 million

Sport: Basketball | Age: 38 | Nationality: U.S. | On-Field: $59.7 million • Off-Field: $65 million

Sport: Golf | Age: 31 | Nationality: Spain | On-Field: $97 million • Off-Field: $10 million

Sport: Soccer | Age: 38 | Nationality: France | On-Field: $100 million • Off-Field: $4 million

Sport: Basketball | Age: 37 | Nationality: U.S. | On-Field: $54.8 million • Off-Field: $49 million

Sport: Auto Racing | Age: 41 | Nationality: U.K. | On-Field: $70 million • Off-Field: $30 million

charts_and_maps

Stacker_Sports

> For the fourth year in a row, and the sixth time overall, Ronaldo [leads the athlete income ranking](https://www.forbes.com/lists/athletes/ "https://www.forbes.com/lists/athletes/"), racking up an estimated $300 million over the past 12 months before taxes and agent fees. The total includes an estimated $235 million from his playing contract with Al-Nassr as well as $65 million from endorsements, appearances, licensing, memorabilia and other business endeavors.

![](https://m.stacker.news/142303)

**The World’s 10 Highest-Paid Athletes 2026**

**#1. $300 million**
**Cristiano Ronaldo**
Sport: Soccer | Age: 41 | Nationality: Portugal | On-Field: $235 million • Off-Field: $65 million

**#2. $170 million**
**Canelo Álvarez**
Sport: Boxing | Age: 35 | Nationality: Mexico | On-Field: $160 million • Off-Field: $10 million

**#3. $140 million**
**Lionel Messi**
Sport: Soccer | Age: 38 | Nationality: Argentina | On-Field: $70 million • Off-Field: $70 million

**#4. $137.8 million**
**LeBron James**
Sport: Basketball | Age: 41 | Nationality: U.S. | On-Field: $52.8 million • Off-Field: $85 million

**#5. $127.6 million**
\* *Shohei Ohtani,*
Sport: Baseball | Age: 31 | Nationality: Japan | On-Field: $2.6 million • Off-Field: $125 million

**#6. $124.7 million**
**Stephen Curry**
Sport: Basketball | Age: 38 | Nationality: U.S. | On-Field: $59.7 million • Off-Field: $65 million

**#7. $107 million**
**Jon Rahm**
Sport: Golf | Age: 31 | Nationality: Spain | On-Field: $97 million • Off-Field: $10 million

**#8. $104 million**
**Karim Benzema**
Sport: Soccer | Age: 38 | Nationality: France | On-Field: $100 million • Off-Field: $4 million

**#9. $103.8 million**
**Kevin Durant**
Sport: Basketball | Age: 37 | Nationality: U.S. | On-Field: $54.8 million • Off-Field: $49 million

**#10. $100 million**
**Lewis Hamilton**
Sport: Auto Racing | Age: 41 | Nationality: U.K. | On-Field: $70 million • Off-Field: $30 million

[https://www.forbes.com/sites/brettknight/2026/05/22/the-worlds-10-highest-paid-athletes-2026/](https://www.forbes.com/sites/brettknight/2026/05/22/the-worlds-10-highest-paid-athletes-2026/)