Cristiano Ronaldo has once again claimed the title of the world's highest-paid athlete according to Forbes, with earnings of $300 million in 2026. This achievement marks his fourth consecutive year at the top and his sixth overall, tying him with Michael Jordan for the second-most appearances in this prestigious ranking. Ronaldo's earnings include a remarkable $235 million from his contract with Al-Nassr FC and an additional $65 million from endorsements, sponsorships, and business ventures. Following him on the list is Canelo Alvarez, who earned $170 million despite a challenging year in the boxing ring, and Lionel Messi, who secured $140 million after a successful season with Inter Miami CF. LeBron James and Shohei Ohtani round out the top five with earnings of $137.8 million and $127.6 million, respectively. The overall earnings of the top 50 highest-paid athletes have surged from $2.6 billion in 2018 to $4.2 billion today, highlighting the explosive growth of sports-related income.