As time goes on, more and more money is pumped into professional football. As such, naturally, players’ salaries have grown exponentionally over the years.
Today, we’ll be looking at the five highest-paid players in the world, featuring stars from divisions such as the Premier League, La Liga and the Saudi Pro League.
We’ll be looking at footballer’s salaries from a yearly perspective, rather than a weekly one, as to give a more accurate and complete figure. All the data for this list has been sourced from Forbes.
Erling Haaland
Arguably the best player in the world at the moment, Erling Haaland may not be the highest-paid player in the world – but he is the highest-paid player in the Premier League at the moment.
In total, Haaland makes around £60.5 million each year, when his salary at Manchester City and his off-field investments and sponsorships are combined.
For a man of his limitless talent, the pay is fully justified – the Norweigian international has scored 15 goals in 14 Premier League appearances so far this season.
Kylian Mbappe
Real Madrid may have signed Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer, but the French international’s wages upon his arrival at the Bernabeu certainly weren’t without an enormous financial cost.
Mbappe’s yearly salary at Madrid amounts to roughly £56.5 million, while he nets a tidy sum of £19 million a year from his off-field investments.
As such, Mbappe makes around £75 million each year when all his incomings are put together. He has been on fire for Madrid this season, scoring 16 goals in 15 La Liga games.
Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema’s best footballing years are behind him, but his best money-making years certainly aren’t. He is the second highest-paid player in the Saudi Pro League – we’ll get to the first soon enough.
While his off-field pay is relatively meagre at just (!) £3 million per year, he earns a whopping £75 million via his yearly salary at Al-Ittihad.
As club captain, he won the Saudi Pro League title with them last season and has scored 11 goals in all competitions over the course of the current campaign.
Lionel Messi
In the eyes of many, Lionel Messi is the greatest footballer to have ever walked the Earth. Currently playing at Inter Miami, he is currently the second-highest paid footballer in the world.
Most of his income is generated through his investments off the field, for which he nets a pretty penny to the tune of roughly £52 million every year.
His salary at Inter Miami isn’t inconsiderable, however – he makes around £45 million per annum for his efforts at the MLS outfit.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Messi might be the best footballer of all time, but Cristiano Ronaldo is probably the most famous. A name synonymous with football, it should come as no surprise that he’s the highest-paid player in the world.
There was much controversy when he signed for Al-Nassr in 2023, but the Portuguese icon has stuck by his decision. When you take a look at his yearly salary of around £172 million, it isn’t hard to see why.
On top of this, Ronaldo is also making over £37 million a year thanks to his off-field investments. In total, the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus superstar makes roughly £213 million every year.