300 million in one year: Cristiano Ronaldo out of category, Forbes acknowledges the break

Cristiano Ronaldo became the first athlete in history to earn $300 million in a single year, according to Forbes' May 22, 2026 ranking. The Al-Nassr striker and Portugal captain far surpasses boxer Canelo Álvarez ($170 million) and Lionel Messi ($140 million). His earnings include $235 million in salary and $65 million from commercial partnerships. Ronaldo tops the ranking for the fourth consecutive year and joins Michael Jordan with six first-place finishes.