Overview
- Forbes published the ranking on Friday, May 22, 2026, saying Ronaldo earned an estimated $300 million for the 12 months ending May 1, 2026, which ties Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s 2015 mark for the largest annual total the magazine has tracked.
- Forbes breaks Ronaldo’s total into about $235 million in on‑field pay from his Al Nassr contract and $65 million in off‑field income from endorsements, appearances, licensing and business ventures.
- The top 10 athletes combined to earn roughly $1.4 billion and the top 50 totaled about $4.1 billion over the year, with on‑field pay measured by salaries, prizes and bonuses and off‑field pay covering sponsorships and related business cash.
- Forbes says Saudi‑backed deals were a major driver of high rankings this year by providing large guaranteed payments and upfront sums that the magazine treated as annualized income under its methodology.
- The list’s methodology includes specific inclusions such as playoff compensation, ATP bonus pools, Ryder Cup stipends and LIV Golf guarantees and does not deduct taxes or agent fees, which affects how totals compare across sports.