In brief
Over the past two years, several of the highest-paid players in the top European leagues have left, including Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Although Lionel Messi is no longer one of the most paid players in European football as a result of his move to the MLS, he would still be highly regarded internationally.
Among the top earners in Europe are Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Robert Lewandowski.
The top earners in the top five European leagues have been announced; many well-known players are now missing because of the Saudi Pro League’s rise to prominence. Prior to their relocation to the Middle East, players like Karim Benzema, Neymar, and Cristiano Ronaldo would have been near the top of this list in 2023.
The aforementioned names are undoubtedly paid more than the top names on our list, given the outrageous salaries that football players in that region of the world receive. Although the 37-year-old chose to join the MLS over the Saudi Arabian division, Lionel Messi also departed the European competition last year. Messi has the largest MLS deal in history, and he would have been near the top of the list again if this were a world ranking.
Other players have been able to break into the top 20 earners in the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1 as a result of these names being removed. Despite the fact that only one Serie A player makes the criteria, they are still considered the best five leagues in the continent. Thus, using the weekly compensation numbers, we examine the top 20 highest-paid players in the top five leagues in Europe.
1Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
Wage: £536,006 per week
After scoring 344 goals during his eight years at Bayern Munich, Robert Lewandowski was signed by Barcelona in 2022. There aren’t many forwards in the modern game who can match Lewandowski’s clinical tendency in front of goal, which makes the Pole an invaluable asset to any team.
It should come as no surprise that Lewandowski is at the top of this list because regularly putting the ball in the net is the hardest skill in sport. Under Hansi Flick, the laser-focussed 36-year-old has recovered his finishing prowess after an unimpressive second season, despite his clinical goalscoring helping Barcelona win the 2022–23 La Liga title.
2Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Wage: £525,000 per week
The Norwegian has demonstrated why Manchester City was willing to pay him such an absurd salary, which was increased to £525,000 per week when all parties agreed on a nine-and-a-half-year contract. He set the Premier League’s single-season goalscoring record in his debut season with 36 goals in 35 games, and he finished as the league’s top scorer in both of his seasons.
No player at Etihad Stadium has even approached Erling Haaland’s stats for the Sky Blues in his two complete seasons there. He will be trying to win the Golden Boot for a third straight season, even if it is obvious that Pep Guardiola and his team will not be able to win five straight by the end of this season.
3Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
Wage: £502,556 per week
In the summer of 2024, Kylian Mbappe eventually joined Real Madrid after years of rumours, however he did so for a lower salary. He earned more than £1 million a week when playing for Paris Saint-Germain, making him the most paid player in Europe. He more than halved his pay to join La Liga because of the temptation of playing for Los Blancos, the reigning European champions.
Nevertheless, he continues to make slightly more than £500,000 per week and will not soon run out of money. However, the 26-year-old’s early comeback did not live up to the money being paid, as he found it difficult to regain his peak performance during the time he was ruling the French city. He’s currently getting his bearings, and it won’t be long before he’s talked about favourably once more.
4Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
Wage: £402,044 per week
A growing number of people thought Harry Kane would never leave Tottenham to take on a new challenge. However, the Englishman was eventually lured away from Spurs and the Premier League by the chance to win championships with Bayern Munich and a substantial contract offer. His pay now reflects the fact that he is regarded as the greatest in his field worldwide.
Given his performance for the German team during his debut season, it seemed inevitable that the second-highest goalscorer in Premier League history would fetch a very rich pay. In just 14 games, Kane became the fastest player to score 20 goals in the Bundesliga. The situation is identical this season, and with the Bavarians currently ahead by a significant margin, the England captain may finally be headed for his coveted league crown.
5Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Wage: £400,000 per week
When playing at his best, Kevin De Bruyne, the creator-in-chief of Manchester City, is unmatched. Even though the Belgian is nearing the end of his career and has been plagued by injuries, few players in the present game can equal his vision and range of passing, which is maybe the best in English football history.
Even before he hangs up his boots, De Bruyne is already influencing discussions about the greatest midfielders in Premier League history, which speaks volumes about the skill the former Chelsea player possesses. However, he just made a public statement of his intention to leave Manchester City, meaning that his ten-year tenure there would end at the end of the current campaign.
6David Alaba (Real Madrid)
Wage: £360,353 per week
It may come as a surprise to learn that David Alaba earns somewhat more than £360,000 every week, more than any of his Real Madrid teammates save for Mbappe. When it became apparent that the versatile Austrian would be leaving his previous club at the conclusion of his contract, there was a lot of interest in him. The Spanish powerhouses jumped in with a huge offer to finalise the deal in 2021.
Due to his versatility, which allowed him to play both in the centre and on the left side, the Swiss Army Knife’s 2023–24 season was cut short by a long-term injury. This was viewed as a significant absence from the backline. He is gradually getting back to work.
7Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Wage: £350,000 per week
What hasn’t already been said about Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool contract? As he approached the last few months of his current contract, the Egyptian had been open about his dissatisfaction with the way negotiations were conducted before extending his stay. Finding a direct replacement for him appears to be nearly impossible, as he remains the Reds’ top goalscorer.
Salah has solidified his reputation as one of the best forwards to have ever graced the English division by ranking among the top 10 Premier League goal scorers of all time. The Anfield supporters are ecstatic about the possibility of him carrying on his legacy on the red half of Merseyside, as he is one of the club’s important figures (not just in terms of goals scored, that is).
8Casemiro (Manchester United)
Wage: £350,000 per week
Casemiro, the highest paid player at Manchester United, was acquired from Real Madrid in 2022 after Los Blancos won five Champions League trophies, therefore his salary was guaranteed to be high. United is renowned for offering large contracts to high-profile acquisitions, and the Brazilian did not let anyone down in his debut season. Since then, there has been a sharp drop.
Despite never being the most mobile, the Brazilian spent the final 18 months of Erik ten Hag’s rule exposed in United’s midfield. The defensive midfielder appears to be living on borrowed time at the Theatre of Dreams, as new manager Ruben Amorim demands a high-pressing style from his squad.
9Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)
Wage: £337,717 per week
Given that the German goalie has been among the finest in his position for the last ten years, it is not unexpected that Bayern Munich’s number one is the highest paid goalkeeper in Europe. In addition, he earns more than any other player in the Bundesliga, second only to teammate Kane. Manuel Neuer is 39 years old, so it’s unclear how long he will stay at the top, but his career will be remembered positively anyway.
When Neuer finally hangs up his gloves, his reputation as one of the best goalkeepers in history will already be cemented. It’s debatable if he is currently worth the salary he receives because it seems like the great goalie is finally paying the price due to a combination of chronic ailments and advanced age.
10Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
Wage: £334,983 per week
Jude Bellingham, who joined from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2023, was one of two players making the same salary at the Santiago Bernabeu. He scored 23 goals in his rookie season while playing in the midfield. By the time he hangs up his boots, this won’t be the 21-year-old’s highest contract, and he appears to be one of the game’s top stars for the next ten years.
He finished among the top three of the Ballon d’Or rankings last season thanks to his play, but Bellingham isn’t playing as well in attacking areas as he used to since Paris-born Mbappe moved to the Spanish city. He clearly still has the future of English football, though, and makes an incredible £334,983 every week in the process.
11Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)
Wage: £334,983 per week
Vinicius Junior, arguably the best left-winger in global football, makes exactly the same amount of money each week as Bellingham. The Brazilian is worth every penny in today’s game, as evidenced by his recent performances, and he makes the cut convincingly. In order to prevent another team from snatching him away his current salary, fans would not be shocked if he were rewarded with an even greater deal soon.
With Bellingham and now Mbappe, the future of European football appears to be somewhat uncertain. However, the three have fallen short of expectations due to issues that were comparable to those that plagued the Galacticos in their former iteration. But time will tell, and one would think that they will unavoidably turn out well.
12Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid)
Wage: £334,983 per week
The 32-year-old glove carrier for Atletico Madrid is paid more than Ederson, Alisson, and Thibaut Courtois, making him the second-highest custodian in the top five European leagues. Jan Oblak just celebrated ten years of service with the Spanish team, during which he has continuously been a standout goalie.
Oblak, despite having started the slow decline from his legendary peak, remains a fearsome presence in goal for Diego Simeone’s team, who are known to invite pressure onto themselves. His significance on the red side of the football-mad city of Madrid is demonstrated by the Slovenian international’s weekly salary, which is the same as that of the offensive talents mentioned before him.
13Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
Wage: £321,636 per week
At a staggering £321,636 a week, one of Bayern Munich’s most underappreciated players is nevertheless highly compensated. Joshua Kimmich has been a very valuable player throughout the years due to his exceptional ability to play and excel at a variety of positions. He has earned every cent of his hefty salary because of his ability to step up when it’s most needed, whether it’s for club or country.
During his nearly ten years with Bayern, the guy who was once hailed as the future Philipp Lahm won almost everything that could be won. He will be remembered as a legend at the Allianz Arena, having made over 400 appearances for the team. Although the team has made it clear that they want to retain the player for the rest of his career, there is still some doubt about what the player’s future may hold given the persistent rumours of a potential move to the Premier League.
14Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus)
Wage: £312,630 per week
Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic hasn’t performed as well at Juventus as many had anticipated, despite displaying amazing promise early in his career. He has been playing well for the defensive Serie A powerhouses, scoring just under a goal every other game, but it isn’t nearly the form he hinted at before leaving Fiorentina.
Nevertheless, Juventus is paying him a very good salary for his services, and he presently earns slightly over £300,000 a week. The club will likely expect him to produce more in front of goal at that kind of cost. His performance in Europe this season was much more encouraging (four goals and one assist in eight games), but he needs to improve at home as the Old Lady attempts to reach their previous level of success.
15Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona)
Wage: £305,554 per week
Due to his massive compensation settlement, Frenkie de Jong, who was once at the top of this list, is now barely in the top 15. The Dutchman had a weekly salary of more than £600,000 at the time these numbers were last gathered. That number was cut by as much as 50% a few months later.
Despite winning La Liga in 2023, the Spanish powerhouses haven’t even come close to winning in Europe recently. In the summer, Flick took over for club legend Xavi Hernandez, so things do appear a bit more promising. Fans may finally be able to put an end to any rumours that the former Ajax player was considering moving to the North West of England now that Erik ten Hag has left Manchester United.
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