The 2026 World Cup began on Thursday, June 11, with FIFA projecting the tournament to be the most profitable in its history. According to FIFA estimates, the four-year cycle ending with the tournament could generate $13 billion in revenue. The organization also estimated the tournament may contribute approximately $17.2 billion to the United States Gross Domestic Product.
The start of the tournament highlights the earnings of its top participants. Forbes recently tracked the highest-paid players at the event, measuring both on-field salaries and off-field income. The analysis found that two active players, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, have reached billionaire status.
Cristiano Ronaldo, representing Portugal at age 41, is the highest-paid athlete according to Forbes. His contract with the Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr paid him $235 million over the last 12 months, contributing to an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion. Off the field, Ronaldo earned an estimated $65 million through his CR7 brand and a hotel venture with the Pestana Group.
Lionel Messi of Argentina, who is 38, reached billionaire status earlier in June, according to Forbes. While his Inter Miami contract is valued at $28 million annually, Bloomberg reported his total earnings reach approximately $80 million when including his ownership stake in the club. Messi earned an additional $70 million off the field through ventures including an energy drink company and production studio, as well as deals with Adidas and Lowe's.
Other top earners include Kylian Mbappé of France, Erling Haaland of Norway, and Vinícius Júnior of Brazil. Mbappé earned $70 million on the field with Real Madrid and $25 million off the field through investments including a professional sailing league and a French soccer club. Haaland earned $60 million in salary and $20 million from off-field ventures, while Vinícius Júnior earned $40 million on the field and $20 million off the field.
The financial scale of the 2026 World Cup affects the economies of the three host nations, particularly the United States, where FIFA projects a $17.2 billion boost to the Gross Domestic Product. For the public, this impact is tied to spending on infrastructure, stadium upgrades, and festivities.
For the professional athletes involved, the tournament represents the peak of a sports market where individual earnings now exceed hundreds of millions of dollars. A soccer player like Cristiano Ronaldo earned roughly $19.5 million per month over the last year. These earnings are no longer limited to salaries paid by teams; they now include revenue from digital assets like blockchain games and direct ownership of other sports franchises.
The tournament is scheduled to run for approximately five weeks. During this time, the commercial performance of the event will be monitored to see if it meets the projected $13 billion revenue target for the current FIFA cycle. Fans and residents in host cities will notice the effects of these preparations through increased tourism and event-related traffic throughout the duration of the matches.