Wages in football have spiralled out of control, with the Saudi Pro League giving players enormous wages in an attempt to recruit football’s top talents.
Nonetheless, just four of the top ten earners in international football compete in the Saudi Pro League, with the Premier League accounting for the same number.
Lionel Messi, although earning significantly less than others on a base salary, comes in second due to lucrative brand deals.
Money in football has always been a contentious issue. Are footballers overpaid in comparison to other jobs that are, perhaps, more vital in society? Of course, it is not the fault of the footballers themselves. If they are offered outrageous pay, they are not going to refuse it, and they have the right to try to earn as much money as possible during their relatively short careers.
However, as the sport has grown in popularity in Saudi Arabia, the pay have absolutely skyrocketed. It’s almost incomprehensible how much money football players make. With that in mind, who are the top ten highest-paid players in international football right now?
It’s often difficult to determine exactly how much footballers get paid because contracts come in all shapes and sizes, with variable bonuses, revenue splits, and stipulations. To provide a more complete picture of how lavishly the finest footballers will live in 2025, Forbes has evaluated both on-field and off-field revenue, including the amount they receive each year from their club, as well as sponsorships and brand partnerships. Some stats may stun you. Strap in, grab some popcorn, and let’s get started right now.
1Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr)
£228 million per year
Cristiano Ronaldo is unquestionably one of the best football players of all time. The Portuguese talisman was the first high-profile star to relocate to Saudi Arabia before everyone else did, therefore he is considered a trailblazer. After a disastrous second term at Manchester United, Ronaldo made the unconventional move to Saudi Arabia and Al-Nassr.
Like most sportsmen, his basic salary is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of his total earnings, with a variety of financial routes allowing him to earn considerably more per month. Ronaldo is the world’s most popular athlete, with a social media following of over 900 million across Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter), and his online presence recently expanded with the launch of a YouTube channel in August, allowing him to earn just over £50 million a year without kicking a ball. His current net worth is reported to be around £500 million, with a mouth-watering annual salary of £228 million.
As of February 2025, he is close to renewing his current contract with Al-Nassr. According to Ben Jacobs, Ronaldo will continue to earn more than £3 million a week, with several performance-related bonuses on offer. As part of the new deal, the forward will be appointed an official Saudi 2034 World Cup ambassador.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s revenue breakdown.
Per hour
£26,027
Per Day
£624,657
Per week
£4,384,615
Per month
£19,000,000
Per year off-field
£52m
Per year on the pitch.
£176m
Per year (total).
£228m
2Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
£108 million per year
Just a few months after guiding Argentina to its 16th Copa America triumph, the second of his career, Lionel Messi helped Inter Miami win its first championship. The South Florida franchise led the MLS with 74 points before losing in the first round of the playoffs.
Regardless, Messi’s stay in Miami has been a success thus far. He has since committed through 2025, with an option for 2026, and Inter Miami president Jorge Mas told Forbes in April that he is “highly confident” Messi will return. Off the pitch, Messi has an outstanding partnership portfolio that includes Adidas, Apple TV, and Konami, as well as over 500 million Instagram followers. He is entirely deserved of his off-field riches as the athlete most unanimously regarded as the ‘Greatest of All Time’.
Lionel Messi’s revenue breakdown
Per hour
£12,328
Per Day
£295,890
Per week
£2,076,923
Per month
£9,000,000
Per year off-field
£60m
Per year on the pitch.
£48m
Per year (total).
£108m
3Neymar Jr (Santos)
£88 million per year
If not for Ronaldo and Messi, Neymar may have become the finest player in world football at some point in his career, but the Ballon d’Or has eluded him year after year. Despite his potential and promise, he has never truly been able to proclaim himself the best in the world. The Brazilian rose to prominence with Santos before joining Barcelona for £49 million in 2013.
He played four seasons at Camp Nou with Messi and Luis Suarez, scoring 105 goals in 186 games across all competitions. He then became the most expensive player in football history when Paris Saint-Germain paid £200 million for his free-scoring heroics in 2017, a figure that helped propel him to the top of the list of the most expensive players ever in terms of total transfer prices.
Was the money well-spent? No Champions League championships would suggest otherwise, but 118 goals in 173 appearances is not terrible at all. However, in 2023, PSG decided it was time to move on from Neymar, who signed with Al-Hilal. Following a disappointing period in Saudi Arabia, Neymar returned to Santos in 2025.
Neymar’s income breakdown
Per hour
£10,045
Per Day
£241,095
Per week
£1,692,307
Per month
£7,333,333
Per year off-field
£24m
Per year on the pitch.
£64m
Per year (total).
£88m
4Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad)
£83 million per year
After 14 incredible seasons at Real Madrid, during which he scored 354 goals, Karim Benzema opted to leave the Bernabeu for the increasingly opulent Saudi Arabia in the summer of 2023. Having endured playing in the shadows of Ronaldo in the Spanish top division, it may be similar in the Middle East, considering that his former teammate has also joined the Saudi Professional League.
At 37 years old, it’s hard to blame the French striker for wanting one last big payoff before calling it quits on his great career. And what a payday it is, with an annual payout of £83 million at Al-Ittihad, which corresponds to a whopping £9,474 every hour. He may not have settled well at his new club, with fans calling the centre striker a nasty moniker, but the huge salary he is receiving will undoubtedly help to soothe the blow.
Karim Benzema’s revenue breakdown
Per hour
£9,474
Per Day
£227,397
Per week
£1,596,153
Per month
£6,916,666
Per year off-field
£3m
Per year on the pitch.
£80m
Per year (total).
£83m
5Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
£72 million per year
Kylian Mbappe debuted for Monaco in the 2016/17 season, scoring 26 goals as a teenager. It resulted in Paris Saint-Germain loaning the striker ahead of a permanent deal worth €145 million plus €35 million in add-ons.
The striker had been at the Parc des Princes for six seasons before completing his inevitable move to Real Madrid in the summer, having scored 212 goals in 260 games across all competitions for the French club. In 2023, after Mbappe expressed his desire not to renew his present contract with PSG, the club accepted a €300 million approach from Al-Hilal, who reportedly offered him an eye-watering €200 million per year. However, Mbappe turned down the deal.
Mbappe, born in Paris, is the third-highest earner in the Spanish top division, earning £505,000 each week. He now plays for the Champions League greats. In turn, the talismanic Frenchman will earn a massive £56 million every year for the duration of his five-year contract, with off-field riches increasing that figure to £72 million every 12 months.
Kylian Mbappe’s revenue breakdown.
Per hour
£8,219
Per Day
£197,260
Per week
£1,384,615
Per month
£6,000,000
Per year off-field
£16m
Per year on the pitch.
£56m
Yearly totals
£72m
6Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
£48m per year
Erling Haaland deserves to be remembered as one of the best scorers in international football for one reason. He excels at putting the ball in the back of the opponent’s net. Since his arrival in the Premier League, the Norwegian has sparked global interest. He broke the single-season goalscoring record, scoring 36 times in only 35 outings during his first season in the tournament.
This horrifying accomplishment carried over into the following season, and he remains a defender’s worst nightmare in 2025. For that reason alone, he deserves his £46 million annual salary. However, while his off-field expenses remain tiny in comparison to other players, this is certain to change.
Erling Haaland’s earnings breakdown
Per hour
£5,479
Per Day
£131,506
Per week
£923,076
Per month
£4,000,000
Per year off-field
£11m
Per year on the pitch.
£37m
Yearly totals
£48m
7Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)
£44m per year
Vinicius Junior has been at Real Madrid since he was 18, and he has become an electrifying scorer, with 101 goals in 295 matches across all competitions. He has also become a highly marketable figure, particularly in Latin America. The Brazilian has 11 commercial partnerships, including Sony’s PlayStation, Pepsi, and Clear shampoo, in addition to an on-field contract signed quietly in 2022 that will keep him with Los Blancos until 2027.
This year, he is one of the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or, therefore it is unsurprising that his yearly salary of £42 million continues to climb, leaving his opponents behind.
Vinicius Junior’s earnings breakdown
Per hour
£5,022
Per Day
£120,547
Per week
£846,153
Per month
£3,666,666
Per year off-field
£12m
Per year on the pitch.
£32m
Yearly totals
£44m
8Mo Salah (Liverpool)
£42m per year
Salah’s star power extends beyond the Premier League to North Africa and the Middle East, where he is widely sought after by regional businesses. He has collaborated with large brands such as Vodafone, Mountain View Egypt, Pepsi, and Adidas, among others, and has approximately 100 million followers on Facebook, Instagram, and X (previously Twitter).
The extremely gifted right-winger has been a talismanic figure for the Reds in recent years, winning the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, two League Cups, FIFA Club World Cup, and UEFA Super Cup while at Anfield. Last season was a letdown for Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp waved farewell – but don’t worry, Salah was still on hand to put up eye-catching stats in terms of goals and assists, which he has continued in 2024/25.
It remains to be seen whether he can sign a new contract at Anfield with less than six months remaining on his present agreement. Whatever happens next, he will surely be one of the highest-paid players in the world.
Mo Salah’s salary breakdown.
Per hour
£4,794
Per Day
£115,068
Per week
£807,692
Per month
£3,500,000
Per year off-field
£14m
Per year on the pitch.
£28m
Yearly totals
£42m
9Sadio Mane (Al-Nassr)
£42 million per year
Sadio Mane joined Southampton from Red Bull Salzburg in 2014, and the winger quickly demonstrated his extraordinary potential, scoring 25 goals in two seasons, including the fastest hat-trick in Premier League history.
He joined Liverpool in 2016 for a sum of £34 million, and it proved to be a fantastic investment for the club. Mane went on to become one of the best and most entertaining attackers in world football, finishing his Liverpool career with 120 goals in 269 games. He helped the club become the greatest in Europe, appearing in three Champions League finals and won one.
He joined Bayern Munich in 2022, however the move did not proceed as expected. Injuries and teammate disagreements derailed his career at Bavaria, and he was permitted to depart after only 12 months. Al-Nassr capitalised and announced Mane’s signing to a massive contract in 2023, which will pay him £42 million per year plus bonuses.
Sadio Mane’s income breakdown
Per hour
£4,794
Per Day
£115,068
Per week
£807,692
Per month
£3,500,000
Per year off-field
£3m
Per year on the pitch.
£39m
Yearly totals
£42m
10Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
£31m per year
Kevin De Bruyne earns an impressive £555,555 every seven days. Arguably Manchester City’s most prominent midfielder beside Rodri, the 31-year-old has sealed his reputation as a club legend at the Etihad Stadium, having scored 103 goals and provided 171 assists.
The Belgian international won his sixth Premier League title last season and created history as a figurehead in leading the Cityzens to an amazing triple in 2022/23. Doubts were raised when City brought De Bruyne, who has the joint-seventh most Champions League assists in history, back to the Premier League all those years ago, but he has consistently answered his critics.
Kevin De Bruyne’s revenue breakdown
Per hour
£3,538
Per Day
£84,931
Per week
£596,153
Per month
£2,583,333
Per year off-field
£3m
Per year on the pitch.
£28m
Yearly totals
£31m
