The sports players who make the most money are usually stars in soccer, basketball, boxing, football, and other major professional sports. Their total earnings can come from team contracts, prize money, sponsorships, endorsements, appearance fees, and business ventures.
As of Forbes’ 2026 ranking of the world’s highest-paid athletes, Cristiano Ronaldo is the top-earning active athlete, while boxing star Canelo Alvarez and soccer star Lionel Messi are also among the biggest earners. Forbes’ rankings measure earnings over a specific 12-month period and include both on-field and off-field income.
Which Sports Players Make the Most Money?
The highest-paid athletes can change from year to year because major contracts, sponsorships, prize money, and business income can dramatically affect annual earnings.
Some of the biggest earners in the latest Forbes data include:
| Athlete | Sport | 2026 Forbes earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Soccer | Record-setting top earner |
| Canelo Alvarez | Boxing | $170 million |
| Stephen Curry | Basketball | $124.7 million |
| Erling Haaland | Soccer | $80 million |
| Luka Doncic | Basketball | $60.9 million |
| Anthony Edwards | Basketball | $69 million |
| Jalen Hurts | Football | $56.6 million |
Forbes’ figures are estimates of annual earnings rather than simply base salaries.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo remains one of the biggest earners in professional sports.
Forbes reports that Ronaldo was the world’s highest-paid athlete for the fourth consecutive year and that his contract with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr pays him more than $200 million annually. His enormous earnings also benefit from sponsorships and other commercial opportunities.
Ronaldo’s worldwide popularity makes him particularly valuable to brands. His social-media following and commercial partnerships contribute significantly to his overall financial profile.
Canelo Alvarez
Professional boxer Canelo Álvarez is another athlete who can generate enormous earnings.
Forbes lists Alvarez at $170 million in 2026 earnings, making him one of the highest-paid athletes in the world. Boxing is different from many team sports because elite fighters can earn exceptionally large amounts from individual events, pay-per-view revenue, sponsorships, and promotional arrangements.
Alvarez has also developed businesses outside the boxing ring, including Canelo Promotions and other ventures.
Stephen Curry
NBA star Stephen Curry is one of the highest-paid basketball players in the world.
Forbes estimates his 2026 earnings at $124.7 million. His income comes from his NBA salary as well as commercial partnerships and business activities.
Basketball players can earn particularly large salaries because the NBA has a highly lucrative professional sports business with substantial media, sponsorship, and league revenue.
Curry’s popularity also gives him significant opportunities outside basketball, including brand partnerships and media ventures.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi is another major source of sports-related earnings.
Forbes reported that Messi ranked third on its 2026 highest-paid-athlete list. His income includes money from playing soccer and substantial off-field earnings through endorsements and commercial partnerships.
His career earnings have reached enormous levels. Forbes reported in 2026 that Messi had earned an estimated $1.2 billion from playing contracts before taxes and agents’ fees over his career.
Erling Haaland
Manchester City soccer star Erling Haaland is among the highest-paid younger athletes.
Forbes lists his 2026 earnings at $80 million. His income includes soccer earnings and endorsement deals with major international brands.
Haaland’s commercial value has grown alongside his performance on the field, making him one of soccer’s most marketable young stars.
NBA Players Make Some of the Biggest Salaries
Basketball is particularly well represented among the world’s highest-paid athletes.
In addition to Curry, players such as Luka Doncic, Anthony Edwards, Nikola Jokic, and other NBA stars earn tens of millions of dollars annually from basketball and commercial activities.
For example, Forbes estimates:
- Anthony Edwards: $69 million
- Nikola Jokic: $62.3 million
- Luka Doncic: $60.9 million
These figures include estimated off-court income in addition to playing earnings.
NBA players can earn large salaries because maximum contracts and long-term extensions can be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
NFL Players Can Also Make Millions
Professional football players in the NFL can earn substantial salaries, particularly star quarterbacks.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is one example. Forbes estimates his 2026 earnings at $56.6 million. His income comes primarily from football, while sponsorships with major brands add to his overall earnings.
NFL salaries can vary significantly by position and contract. Quarterbacks who become franchise stars can command some of the largest contracts in American sports.
Why Do Sports Players Make So Much Money?
The highest-paid athletes generate enormous economic value for teams, leagues, sponsors, broadcasters, and other businesses.
Several factors can contribute to an athlete’s income.
Player Contracts
Professional teams pay elite players large salaries because exceptional talent can have a major impact on a team’s performance and commercial value.
Sponsorships
Major athletes can earn millions from companies that want to associate their brands with popular sports stars.
These deals can involve athletic apparel, beverages, technology, financial services, automobiles, watches, and many other products.
Prize Money
Individual sports such as boxing, tennis, and golf can provide large payouts through tournaments or individual events.
A successful athlete can earn significant money without receiving a traditional team salary.
Business Ventures
Some athletes invest their money or create businesses outside their sport. These ventures can become important sources of income.
Social Media and Global Popularity
Athletes with enormous international audiences can be especially attractive to advertisers. A global superstar can promote products to fans in many different countries.
Which Sport Pays Athletes the Most?
There is no single sport that always produces the highest-paid athlete because individual earnings vary from year to year.
However, soccer, basketball, boxing, American football, golf, and other major professional sports regularly produce athletes with extremely high annual earnings.
Soccer has produced several of the world’s biggest earners, including Ronaldo and Messi. Basketball has also produced numerous top earners, while boxing can generate exceptionally large paydays for major fights.
The sport itself is only part of the equation. An athlete’s popularity, contract, endorsements, business interests, and competitive success can be just as important.
Do the Highest-Paid Players Have the Highest Salaries?
Not necessarily.
There is an important difference between salary and total earnings.
An athlete might have a large team salary but relatively modest endorsement income. Another athlete could have a lower playing salary but earn tens of millions from sponsorships and businesses.
Forbes’ annual athlete rankings include estimated income from salaries, prize money, endorsements, licensing, appearances, and other business activities.
This is why the highest-paid athlete is not always the athlete with the largest playing contract.
What About Female Sports Players?
Female athletes can also earn substantial amounts, particularly through endorsements and prize money.
However, Forbes reported that no woman appeared among the 50 highest-paid athletes in its 2026 ranking, despite continued growth in women’s sports.
This illustrates the significant earnings gap that still exists between the biggest men’s and women’s sports markets.
That does not mean female athletes cannot become highly paid. Several leading women have built major incomes through tournament winnings, salaries, sponsorships, licensing, and business ventures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which sports player makes the most money?
Cristiano Ronaldo was the world’s highest-paid athlete in Forbes’ 2026 ranking. His earnings include a massive Al-Nassr contract along with commercial income.
Which sport has the richest athletes?
Soccer, basketball, boxing, football, and other major professional sports regularly produce some of the world’s highest-paid athletes. Soccer has been particularly prominent at the top of recent global earnings rankings.
Do athletes make more money from salaries or endorsements?
It depends on the athlete. Some stars receive most of their income from team contracts, while others earn enormous amounts from endorsements, sponsorships, appearances, and business ventures.
Who is the highest-paid basketball player?
Stephen Curry is among the highest-paid basketball players and Forbes estimates his 2026 total earnings at $124.7 million.
Why do boxers make so much money?
Top boxers can receive large event-related payouts and may also earn from pay-per-view, sponsorships, promotions, and other commercial arrangements. Their earnings can therefore be concentrated around major fights.
Can athletes become billionaires?
Yes. A small number of athletes have reached billionaire status through a combination of career earnings, endorsements, investments, ownership stakes, and business ventures. Forbes currently estimates Cristiano Ronaldo’s real-time net worth at approximately $1.2 billion.
Conclusion
The sports players who make the most money are usually global superstars whose income extends well beyond their playing contracts. Cristiano Ronaldo, Canelo Alvarez, Stephen Curry, Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, and leading NBA and NFL stars are examples of athletes who have generated enormous earnings.
The biggest financial opportunities tend to come from a combination of elite contracts, sponsorships, prize money, global popularity, and business ventures. As a result, the highest-paid athlete can change from year to year depending on major contracts and commercial deals.