When Portugal takes the field against the Democratic Republic of Congo on June 17, Cristiano Ronaldo will once again chase the biggest accolade that has eluded him throughout his illustrious career. The 41-year-old has represented his country five other times in the World Cup and has never been able to call himself a champion. But regardless of whether that changes during Ronaldo’s record-setting sixth appearance at the tournament, he’s already claimed another crown.
Ronaldo is the highest-paid player at the 2026 World Cup, having earned an estimated $295 million over the past 12 months before taxes and agents’ fees.
That mostly stems from his contract with Al-Nassr, the Saudi Pro League team he joined in 2023. Ronaldo pulled in around $230 million on the field this past season after re-upping with the franchise on a two-year deal, though his arrangement is believed to be subsidized by commercial agreements orchestrated by the club. He also earns an estimated $65 million annually from a slew of partners that includes Nike, Herbalife and Binance.
It’s familiar territory for the Portuguese star. He’s topped Sportico’s annual list of the world’s highest-paid athletes, which operates on a calendar-year window, each of the last three years, and he has collected a non-inflation-adjusted $2.1 billion in career earnings, the most by any soccer player in history. Ronaldo is one of a handful athletes who have reached billionaire status, with Bloomberg putting his net worth at $1.4 billion.
