Where Data Tells the Story
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Soccer is the biggest money-maker among the world’s highest-paid athletes in 2026, according to Forbes.
The sport accounts for five of the top 20 athletes, who collectively earned $719 million, or nearly 32% of the $2.26 billion earned by the entire group.
Basketball also places five athletes in the top 20, but their combined earnings total $547.7 million. That is about $171 million less than soccer, despite both sports having the same number of representatives.
The difference largely comes from soccer’s biggest stars. Cristiano Ronaldo leads with $300 million, followed by Lionel Messi at $140 million, Karim Benzema at $104 million, Kylian Mbappé at $95 million, and Erling Haaland at $80 million.
Ronaldo’s earnings are particularly striking when compared with American football. The three NFL players who made the top 20 earned a combined $244.1 million. Ronaldo alone made $55.9 million more than all three combined.
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