Aryna Sabalenka named most marketable athlete of 2026

Tennis star Aryna Sabalenka has been ranked as the world’s most marketable athlete for 2026 by SportsPro. The 28-year-old Belarusian achieved a score of 80.95 out of 100, rising from 27th place in the previous year.

The ranking, produced by NorthStar Solutions Group, evaluates 1,202 athletes across 70 sports based on brand equity, momentum, and commercial trajectory. Sabalenka’s high brand equity is supported by partnerships with brands including Gucci, Emirates, Nike, Wilson, and Audemars Piguet. It is estimated she earned approximately $30 million in 2025 from tournament prizes and off-court endorsements.

Other top performers in the annual list include freestyle skier Eileen Gu in second place, followed by Giannis Antetokounmpo, Erling Haaland, and Carlos Alcaraz. In the football category, Cristiano Ronaldo ranked 14th, ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior. The list features 22 different nationalities, with basketball being the most represented sport.