Over the last 12 months, Ronaldo is estimated to have earned approximately 300 million USD before taxes and agent fees. Of this, 235 million USD came from his playing contract with Al Nassr, while the remaining 65 million USD was generated from endorsements, image rights, and commercial activities.

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates winning the Saudi Pro League at Al Awwal Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 21/5. Photo: Reuters

Beyond the football pitch, the 41-year-old forward is expanding his business footprint, holding a 25% stake in Spanish club UD Almeria. He also maintains a substantial portfolio of sponsorships with Binance, Nike, and Perplexity, and invested 7,5 million USD in health technology company HBL Pro2col through Herbalife. With over 1 billion social media followers, Ronaldo remains one of the largest individual brands in global sports.

Ronaldo's 300 million USD earnings match the one-year income record set by American boxer Floyd Mayweather in 2015. This is the highest figure recorded by Forbes since it began tracking athlete earnings in 1990. Adjusted for inflation, Mayweather's earnings would still lead at approximately 427 million USD.

Following Ronaldo on the list is Canelo Alvarez, with earnings of 170 million USD over the past 12 months. The Mexican boxing star secured a major contract with Saudi Arabia, maintaining significant commercial appeal. Despite his loss to Terence Crawford in Las Vegas, the event broke Nevada's boxing attendance record, drawing over 70,000 live spectators and more than 41 million views on Netflix. Outside the ring, Alvarez has built a business ecosystem that includes gas stations, convenience stores, and his VMC canned cocktail brand.

Lionel Messi ranks third, earning 140 million USD. The Argentine superstar continues to be central to MLS, receiving a guaranteed income package of 28,3 million USD from Inter Miami, in addition to revenue-sharing agreements with Adidas and Apple TV. Off-field, he partners with Mastercard, Michelob Ultra, and Duracell. Messi has also invested in Spanish football by acquiring club Cornella and real estate in Barcelona, and extended his contract with Inter Miami until 2028.

LeBron James is close behind, with 137,8 million USD. The 41-year-old basketball star maintains his influence both on and off the court, with the potential to become a free agent this summer. In addition to endorsement deals with DraftKings, Hennessy, and Richard Mille, LeBron is a partner in Fenway Sports Group, which owns Liverpool and the Boston Red Sox. He has also invested in Whoop and co-hosts the "Mind The Game" podcast with Steve Nash.

Ranking fifth is Shohei Ohtani, with 127,6 million USD. The Japanese baseball player signed a 10-year, 700 million USD contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, though most of it is deferred. In the short term, his income comes from his playing salary, bonuses, and dozens of global endorsement deals with brands such as Grand Seiko, Kirin, and Wacoal. Ohtani has also had the best-selling MLB jersey for three consecutive years.

Shohei Ohtani pitches during a Los Angeles Dodgers game against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California, My on 13/5. Photo: Reuters

Collectively, the world's top 10 highest-earning athletes this year amassed approximately 1,4 billion USD, a slight increase from 2025 and more than double the 635 million USD recorded in 2016, the year Ronaldo first topped the list with 88 million USD.

Off-field income continues to play a significant role, with this group generating 513 million USD from sponsorships and business ventures, nearly matching the 2021 record. Ohtani alone leads in off-field earnings, bringing in approximately 125 million USD from his global endorsement deals.

Forbes' report also highlights a trend of increasing average age among the highest-earning athletes, now reaching 37 years old. This is the highest recorded average age, reflecting the extended careers of top sports stars.

The global sports income landscape shows a clear shift, with commercial contracts, investments, and especially capital from the Middle East playing an increasingly prominent role, alongside the peak performance value of the world's leading superstars.

Hong Duy (according to Forbes)