As the calendar switched to 2026 and my social media feeds were inundated with lists, the one that caught my eye was Sportico’s list of the 100 best paid athletes in the world.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s USD $260 million annual take and residency at the top of the charts wasn’t a surprise. Nor was it a mystery that he almost doubled the person in second place - Canelo Alvarez, the Mexican boxer who took in $137M last year.
Also not surprising was that the top grossing Canadian – Hamilton, Ontario’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder – placed only 38th overall.
But it did leave me wondering which Canadians are the best paid. Seven of the Top 10 are basketball players, with three baseball players completing that particular list.
The two best hockey players in the world – Nathan MacKinnon of Halifax and the Colorado Avalanche, and Connor McDavid of Richmond Hill, Ontario and the Edmonton Oilers – fail to land in the Top 10, despite MacKinnon’s $16M salary, second most in the NHL. Don’t let your babies grow up to be hockey players.
Canada’s highest paid player in the NFL is Alaric Jackson, a dual Canada-US citizen from Windsor. He earned $17.5 million this year and will play in the NFC’s championship game on Sunday. Still, not in Canada’s Top 10.
Perhaps the country’s best soccer player, Alphonso Davies, is earning between USD $16-17 million playing for Bayern Munich in Germany. That won’t place him in the Top 10 in Canada, but his endorsement deals with Nike, BMO, Crocs and EA Sports ensure his moneymaking endures well beyond the weekly paycheque.
So here is the list of the 10 highest paid Canadian athletes. Please note this list is based on salary only. Endorsements are another deal entirely, we’re just rating by pay here for these loyal company people.
1. Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. Toronto Blue Jays. Major League Baseball
$40 million
As a prelude to a magical Jays’ season which saw the team make it to the World Series for the first time since 1993, only to lose in heartbreaking fashion in Game 7, the All-Star first baseman born in Montreal signed the largest guaranteed contract in the history of Canadian pro sports. He will earn USD $500M over 14 years. “In 2026, Guerrero will earn a base salary of $17,000,000 and a signing bonus of $13,000,000, while carrying a total salary of $40,214,285” according to Spotrac.
On top of this salary, he has endorsement deals with companies like Jordan Brand, BODYARMOR, Xbox and Chevrolet. He will be printing money for years to come.
2. Jamal Murray. Denver Nuggets. National Basketball Association
$39.3 million
For the current 2025-26 season, Kitchener, Ontario’s Murray, a former NBA champion, will be the highest salaried Canadian player in basketball. His estimated $5M in endorsements enhance a lucrative career that is getting better and better.
3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Oklahoma City Thunder. National Basketball Association
$36.5 million
He’s coming off a season that previously had only been matched in this country by the greatest of Canadian hockey players like Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux. He was the regular season MVP and the MVP of the championship round, won by his team. Then he signed the richest contract in NBA history and will earn nearly $79M in the 2030-31 season!
But for now, he is still on his second league deal which is earning him $36.5 million this season, third most among Canadian athletes, and 2nd among Canadian NBA players. To make up for it, he is likely with Guerrero in the Top 2 Canadian endorsement earners, and maybe Number 1. According to Sportico, he earns an additional $20M off the court, mostly from his lucrative deal with Converse.
There will not be a better paid Canadian athlete than SGA within two years and he will undoubtedly be the first sportsperson from this country to earn USD $100 million in a single calendar year.
4. Andrew Wiggins. Miami Heat. National Basketball Association
$28.2 million
The Number 1 pick of the 2014 NBA Draft turns 31 this year and his play has declined since winning the championship with Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors in 2022. But his salary continues to spike. He has a player option for the ’26-27 season that will see him earn $30.2M. After that, it is unlikely he will come close to the $20M mark and will fall off this list. But endorsements with Peak, FitBit and Invisalign ensure his side hustle will continue earning added dollars.
5. RJ Barrett. Toronto Raptors. National Basketball Association
$27.7 million
He’s not the highest paid player on his team – Scottie Barnes has that distinction – but he is the top salaried Canadian playing for his hometown team. In addition to the $27.7M he earns from the Raptors, Toronto’s finest draws further earnings from endorsement deals with RBC, Puma, Aires Tech, Spotify and others. Still only 25 years old, his team salary will rise to $29.6M next year. He will become an unrestricted free agent in 2027 when his yearly take could rise to $60M per annum. Or more.
6. Freddie Freeman. Los Angeles Dodgers. Major League Baseball
$22.9 million
Born in California but with Canadian citizenship thanks to his parents, Freeman is a 3-time World Series champion, World Series MVP, National League MVP and 9-time All-Star. The $22.9M he will make in 2026 will be enhanced by endorsement money from Under Armor, T-Mobile and Mastercard.
7. Dillon Brooks. Phoenix Suns. National Basketball Association
$21.1 million
The 30-year-old guard from Mississauga was a second round pick in 2017 but has built an impressive basketball career, including an Olympic appearance with Canada, and a bronze medal with the national team at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, the country’s first podium finish in senior basketball since 1936. His salary makes him one of seven Canadian athletes to be earning over USD $20M and he has endorsements with Under Armor and Panda Hub to pad that statistic.
8. Nick Pivetta. San Diego Padres. Major League Baseball
$19.0 million
The 32-year old pitcher from Victoria, BC will earn USD $19 million in the upcoming baseball season.
9. Andrew Nembhard. Indiana Pacers. National Basketball Association
$18.1 million
The 26-year old shooting guard from Aurora, Ontario was making a modest two million dollars on his rookie NBA deal just last year but then the Pacers surprised many observers and made it to the NBA Finals. His strong postseason performance earned him a three-year deal that started out this season at 18.1 mill. Side hustles with Nike, Dell, Walmart and Nordstrom are sure to line the bank account as well.
10. Jameson Taillon. Chicago Cubs. Major League Baseball
$18.0 million
Born to Canadian snowbirds in Florida, the 34-year-old pitcher recently pitched in the MLB playoffs and has won 82 career games over 10 seasons. He has endorsement deals with Bank of America and Wilson.
Follow Dan Gladman on Instagram and Blue Sky: @dgontheroad
