Forbes Report
Cristiano Ronaldo continues to hold the title of the highest-paid football player globally. A recent list from Forbes Magazine reveals that the 40-year-old Portuguese national team player earns a remarkable $280 million annually. A large portion of Ronaldo’s income is derived from his club, Al-Nassr, where he receives a staggering $230 million per season.
Ronaldo is one of three Saudi Pro League players in the top ten earners. The other two are Karim Benzema (third) and Sadio Mané (eighth). Benzema has an off-field earning of just $4 million, but his $100 million salary at Al-Ittihad ensures his place among the top three. Meanwhile, his teammate Mané, a former Liverpool star, earns $54 million per year, with $50 million coming from Al-Nassr.
Spain’s La Liga boasts the highest representation in the top ten, with four players. Three of them are part of Real Madrid: Kylian Mbappé (fourth), Vinicius Junior (sixth), and Jude Bellingham (ninth). Their combined earnings are $95 million, $60 million, and $44 million, respectively, from salaries and endorsements. New to the list is Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, who makes an impressive $43 million a year, with $33 million from his club and $10 million from off-field ventures.
Top-Paid Footballers in the World: Only Two Premier League Players – Messi at 2nd
Only two players from the Premier League are featured in the rankings: Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah. Haaland is in fifth place with a total income of $80 million per year. Forbes estimates that the Norwegian forward earns $60 million with Man City. Salah, who recently signed a contract extension with Liverpool, comes in seventh with an estimated income of $35 million and an additional $20 million from off-field activities.
Lionel Messi represents Major League Soccer on the list, placing second with an annual income of $130 million. According to Forbes, his salary from Inter Miami CF is projected at $60 million, supplemented by $70 million from other sources. However, this estimate significantly differs from figures released by the Major League Soccer Players Association (MLSPA), which indicates Messi’s guaranteed income at Inter Miami CF is only $20.4 million.
