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Ronaldo Tops $300 M Earnings, Leads Athlete Pay Chart

5/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

Cristiano Ronaldo earned $300 million in 2026, staying the world’s highest-paid athlete for a fourth straight year.
He earned $235 million on-field with Al-Nassr and $65 million off-field, matching Floyd Mayweather’s 2015 record and tying Michael Jordan’s six No. 1 finishes.
Other top earners included Lionel Messi with $140 million, LeBron James with $137.8 million (including $85 million in endorsements), and Shohei Ohtani with $127.6 million, whose 10-year Dodgers contract is largely deferred to 2034.

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Story summary

Cristiano Ronaldo earned $300 million in 2026, staying the world’s highest-paid athlete for a fourth straight year.
He earned $235 million on-field with Al-Nassr and $65 million off-field, matching Floyd Mayweather’s 2015 record and tying Michael Jordan’s six No. 1 finishes.
Other top earners included Lionel Messi with $140 million, LeBron James with $137.8 million (including $85 million in endorsements), and Shohei Ohtani with $127.6 million, whose 10-year Dodgers contract is largely deferred to 2034.