As the saying goes, “money follows attention." The round leather game is no different. The increase in awareness of business opportunities available in the football business has led to huge investments from super-rich individuals and large corporations alike. No wonder the top players earn staggering sums, both on and off the pitch. This has led many to ask questions like, Who is the highest-paid footballer in the world right now? And also, what percentage of the pie do the top players get, and who are they?
Every year Forbes magazine publishes their list of the top 10 highest paid footballers in the world, and it is to no great surprise that one of the best-paid players in the world to ever play the game of soccer, Cristiano Ronaldo, remains on top. Who are the other players we have on the list?
Keep reading as we delve into the careers and financial status of the highest paid footballers in the world. These players have showcased remarkable talent at various levels and achieved astronomical earnings over the years.
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Top 10 highest paid players in the world
In a world where footballers' paychecks rival the earnings of top CEOs, the 2024 list of the highest-paid footballers continues to shatter records, with eye-watering figures and some unexpected names making the list in 2024
Cristiano Ronaldo ($285 million)
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Cristiano Ronaldo’s journey to football greatness began in Madeira, Portugal. the season after Manchester United, Sir Ales Ferguson of Manchester United acquired him from Sporting CP. United’s defence had a hard time containing the young lad on the pitch when the two sides met in the UEFA Champions League. His skill and talent were simply undeniable. His prowess on the field earned him global fame and more dedication to being the best, leading him to a successful stint at Real Madrid and Juventus, where he won the world best player of the year multiple times and many cup championships under his belt, before his move to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia in 2023.
Ronaldo’s annual earnings have skyrocketed, earning $220 million on-field and $65 million off-field, making him the highest-paid footballer in the world. His style and charisma also make him loved and top of mind for endorsements, and he has amassed significant wealth from global brands, such as his lifetime deals with Nike, Binance, Livescore, and many others. These strategic career moves and endorsements have undoubtedly contributed to his financial dominance in the football world.
Just recently he broke some records on Youtube with his new YouTube channel created where he needed only 90 minutes to attain the one million subscribers mark and his subscribers on YouTube have grown to about 65 million as of the time of this publication. He is currently also the most popular athlete, having a combined followers of over 900 million on instagram, facebook and X (formerly Twitter)
Lionel Messi ($135 million)
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Lionel Messi, a household name and Argentina and Barcelona legend and one of the most paid players in the world. Some call him the modern-day Maradona! Coming from a humble beginning like every aspiring kid wanting to make a difference, he went as far as using his money for food to buy soccer boots. He rose through the ranks of the club's youth system and became one of the most gifted footballers in the history of the game. Messi's dribbling skills, vision, and goal-scoring ability won him numerous club titles and awards, including highest goal scorer, best player of the competition, seven Ballon d'Or titles, Spanish La Liga, and UEFA Champions League. Oh, how can anybody forget his contribution in leading his country to winning the World Cup, which further affirms his legendary status?
In 2021, Messi left Barcelona, his childhood club, for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), of which he earned around $135 million per year. As expected, a player of his calibre has an extensive portfolio of endorsements, including mouthwatering deals with Adidas, Pepsi, and Budweiser, amongst others. In 2023, Leo was done with European football and moved to Inter Miami in the MLS, continuing to be one of the world's highest-paid athletes to this day. His combined earnings are estimated On-Field: $60 million and Off-Field: $75 million
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Neymar Jr ($110 million)
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Neymar Jr., a football sensation who took the global scene by storm with his impressive skills at one of Brazil’s top sides, Santos, before moving to Barcelona in 2013. Known for his flair, agility, and creativity on the ball from his days at Santos, which became even more amplified with the MSN trio at Barca. He quickly became one of the sport’s most marketable stars.
In 2017, Neymar made headlines with a record-breaking transfer to PSG in League 1 for £200 million. The Brazilian playmaker recorded significant success; however, his performance was plagued with injuries and some time off the pitch. Fortunately for him, he got even a bigger offer from Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia. This is a testament to the value he brings to the team and the entire league in general.
Off the field, he has a portfolio of lucrative endorsements with companies like Puma and Red Bull, adding millions to his already fat annual income. One last factor to consider, which might be subtle but might be a huge contributor to the financial success he has achieved so far, is that his father is his agent. Obviously, he’s in good hands when it comes to negotiation with clubs, and that has positioned him among football’s financial elite. He currently earns around $80 million on-field and $30 million off-field
Karim Benzema ($104 million)
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The French talisman’s career began at Olympic Lyon before he moved to Real Madrid in 2009. Known for his lethal positioning and finishing in the box, as well as intelligence on the field. He soon became a key player not only for Los Blancos but throughout European football. His performance, especially at crucial matches, saw him win multiple prestigious titles, such as the Spanish La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.
His best year in his career was the 2021/2022 football season, where he received the award for the world’s best player, finally putting him on the list of the exceptional strikers who have graced the pitch.
In 2023, after conquering Europe, Benzema signed a lucrative deal with Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, earning him around $100 million on-field and $4 million off-field, placing him among the top-paid players globally. While Benzema may not have the same commercial appeal or endorsements as Cristiano Ronaldo or Leonel Messi, his current contract shows how top players are securing financial futures through lucrative deals in emerging markets.
Kylian Mbappe ($90 million)
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Now let’s talk about the star in the making, Kylian Mbappe, who burst onto the scene at AS Monaco in 2017, where he won the League 1 title, and following a ground-breaking €180 million move to PSG the same year, making him the most expensive teenage player of all time, playing alongside the likes of Neymar Jr and Edison Cavani at only 18 years of age. His blistering energy and pace, technique, and composure in front of goal have established him as one of the world’s top football talents. Within a relatively young career, he has already won six Ligue 1 titles, four Coupes de France, was the League 1 top scorer for six seasons, five times League 1 player of the year, was the PSG all-time goal scorer with 256 goals, and was the first League 1 player to become the top scorer and assist leader simultaneously in 2022. He also led PSG to the club’s first UEFA Champions League Finals in 2020. There’s a lot of jealousy regarding his career at the international level as well, making his debut in 2017 and becoming the youngest French player to score in the tournament. His performance also won him the World Cup Best Young Player and French Player of the Year at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Obviously a top pick for the Ballon d’Or, though he hasn’t won it yet. However, he ended up as the runner-up for the Best FIFA Men’s Player and third place for the Ballon d’Or in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
There were a lot of issues surrounding his contract and earnings with the top French side for a few years, prior to his free transfer to Real Madrid. Mbappe’s current salary at Los Blancos is approximately $70 million on-field and $20 million off-field. Endorsement deals with top brands like Nike, Hublot, and many others will also contribute significantly to his future income. Due to his relatively younger age, he still has many more years ahead of him and a lot more to offer and subsequently earn, which could soon see him surpass others in a few years.
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Erling Haaland ($60 Million)
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Haaland, one of the highest-paid football players in the premier league has piled up major trophies since joining Manchester City two years ago from Borussia Dortmund, with two Premier League championships, an FA Cup, and a Champions League title. International competition has been a different story. Norway hasn’t qualified for the World Cup since 1998 or the European Championship since 2000.
The centre forward was born in Leeds, and he started his football career with Bryne in Norway. At a tender age, he broke the record for most goals scored by a player in a single match at a FIFA U-20 World Cup (9 goals). When he moved to the Bundesliga side Borusia Dortmund, he also set a record for the first player in Bundesliga history to score five goals in his first two games. Currently, he earns about $46 million on-field and $14 million off-field
Vinicius Jr ($55 million)
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Vinicius Junior, the attack left winger, was born in São Gonçalo, Brazil, and he started his football career with the Flamengo u20 team before moving to join Real Madrid In 2018/19 at the age of 18 years. Vnicius Jr. is appearing on the list of highest paid footballer in the world for the first time. His performance for Real Madrid have seen him sign a contract with Real Madrid till 2027, earning about $40 million On-Field: and Off-Field: $15 million
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Mohamed Salah ($53 Million)
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The Egyptian talisman’s Mohammed Salah star power extends from the Premier League to North Africa and the Middle East. He started his career with Mokawloon U23 in Egypt and currently plays for Liverpool football club in England
Having won the African Player of the Year award twice, Mohammed Salah is a hot commodity for brands operating in the Africa region, having worked with the likes of Vodafone, Mountain View Egypt, Pepsi, and Adidas, to name a few, and boasts an audience of nearly 100 million followers across Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). Currently, he earns $35 million on field and $18 million off field
Sadio Mané ($52 Million)
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The Senegalese forward came into the limelight at Southampton FC following when he set a new record for the fastest hat-trick in Premier League history, scoring three times within 2 minutes 56 seconds in a 6-1 victory over Aston Villa.
Mane joined Liverpool FC afterwards, where he continued to establish himself as a brilliant attacker and a good team player, playing alongside Roberto Firminho and Philippe Coutinho.
His personal achievements in the Premier League include player of the month, PFA Player of the Year, highest scoring Senegalese in history, Liverpool player of the season, and also becoming the second player to score an away hat-trick for the club in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 against Porto. The icing on the cake regarding his spell at the Reds will not be complete without mentioning his immense contribution in winning the UEFA Champions League Finals against Tottenham by securing a penalty early in the game.
His next stop was Bayern Munich, where he had a disappointing season before decamping to Saudi Pro League’s Al Nassr after a year, where he currently plays alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. He is currently on a juicy $45 million four-year contract with the club till 2027. He currently earns $48 million on field and $4 million off field
Kevin De Bruyne ($39 million)
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Kelvin De Bruyne, the Belgian talisman, started his football career with KAA Gent Youth and have played for Chelsea, Werder Bremen, and VFL Wolfsburg before finally moving to Manchester City
He has been getting offers to play in Saudi Arabia, but De Bruyne keeps turning down the offers to avoid uprooting his family from Manchester. Recently, there are rumors that Cristiano Ronaldo is campaigning to bring the Belgian star to Al Nassr. Off the pitch, De Bruyne works with a half dozen brands, including Nike and McDonald’s. He currently earns $35 million on field and $4 million off field
Conclusion
The footballers listed above have not only reached the pinnacle of the sport but also transformed their financial fortunes via their gigantic annual incomes, as they continue to dominate both on the pitch and in the business world. These players represent the peak of football talent and financial success, showing how their careers have helped them achieve their current financial statuses and afford their wealthy lifestyle.
METHODOLOGY
As of the time of this publication, it is important to note that the earnings and rankings of these players are subject to change. Footballers' contracts, endorsement deals, and transfers can evolve quickly, which may impact their overall financial standing. The figures mentioned here represent rough estimates based on the most current information available but may not fully reflect any future developments.
