Ronaldo tops Forbes list and passes $2 billion
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Cristiano Ronaldo, now 41, has been ranked the world’s highest-paid footballer in Forbes’ latest 2026 list after earning about £225 million over the past year, or roughly US$300 million according to another report. The Al Nassr forward’s career earnings have now exceeded US$2 billion, making him the first footballer to reach that milestone. Lionel Messi ranked second on the annual list, while Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Vinicius Junior were also among the leading earners. The figures underline how Saudi club salaries and global sponsorship income are reshaping football’s financial hierarchy.
Key Points
- Forbes’ 2026 highest-paid footballers ranking placed Ronaldo first with about £225 million in annual income, equivalent to roughly US$300 million.
- SingTao said Ronaldo’s career earnings officially passed US$2 billion, around HK$15.6 billion, making him football’s first “US$2 billion man”
- on.cc reported Ronaldo earned about US$235 million in salary from Al Nassr and another US$65 million from endorsements
- Messi was listed second with £109 million by SingTao and US$140 million by on.cc, still well behind Ronaldo’s total.
- Other top earners included Mbappe, Haaland and Vinicius Junior, while Karim Benzema ranked third in on.cc’s version of the list.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the story shows how football’s biggest stars now make as much from commercial power and overseas league contracts as from on-pitch performance. It also keeps the Ronaldo-Messi rivalry relevant beyond trophies, because their earnings remain a major part of how global fans and sponsors measure influence