Some of the world’s best players, like Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal, are currently playing in Spain’s top division. La Liga is home to tremendously gifted superstars, including some of the top contenders for the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
While there is more money to be made in other leagues, like as the Saudi Pro League and the Premier League, Spain’s top clubs aren’t afraid to offer lucrative contracts to attract and keep world-class talent.
With Madrid and Barcelona players at the top of this list, it’s no wonder that the purse strings have been tightened, particularly in the case of the Catalan club. Here is a list of the 20 highest-paid players in La Liga.
Top 20 Highest Paid La Liga Players.
Rank
Player
Club
Salary (pounds)
1
Robert Lewandowski
Barcelona
£540,918 p/w
2
Kylian Mbappe
Real Madrid
£507,161 p/w
3
David Alaba
Real Madrid
£365,156 p/w
=4
Vinicius Jr.
Real Madrid
£338,053 p/w
=4
Jude Bellingham
Real Madrid
£338,053 p/w
=4
Jan Oblak
Atlético Madrid
£338,053 p/w
7
Frenkie de Jong
Barcelona
£308,354 p/w
=8
Federico Valverde
Real Madrid
£270,540 p/w
=8
Lamine Yamal
Barcelona
£270,540 p/w
10
Thibaut Courtois
Real Madrid
£243,437 p/w
11
Trent Alexander–Arnold
Real Madrid
£240,000 p/w
=12
Raphinha
Barcelona
£236,621 p/w
=12
Eder Militao
Real Madrid
£236,621 p/w
=12
Antonio Rudiger
Real Madrid
£236,621 p/w
15
Ansu Fati
Barcelona
£226,397 p/w
16
Jules Kounde
Barcelona
£219,905 p/w
=17
Daniel Olmo
Barcelona
£202,864 p/w
=17
Rodrygo
Real Madrid
£202,864 p/w
=17
Aurelien Tchouameni.
Real Madrid
£202,864 p/w
=17
Eduardo Camavinga
Real Madrid
£202,864 p/w
10Thibaut Courtois
£243,437 p/w
The Belgian shot-stopper has built a surprisingly successful career for himself. Thibaut Courtois has cemented his place as one of the best goalkeepers in history, having won two Champions League crowns and numerous domestic trophies.
The former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid player earns about a quarter of a million pounds per week, which is generally fantastic value. However, a terrible ACL injury forced him to miss the majority of the 2023/24 season. He did keep a clean sheet in that year’s Champions League final and returned to form in 2024/25, reminding the world of his abilities when at his peak.
9Lamine Yamal
£270,540 p/w
At the age of 17, Lamine Yamal has ascended to become one of the top football players in the world and a serious contender for the 2025 Ballon d’Or. The teenager has begun to draw comparisons to Barcelona legend Lionel Messi, but he still has a long way to go before achieving GOAT status like the Argentine.
However, Yamal is being paid more richly than Messi was as a teenager, with the Spain international signing a new contract at the end of the 2024/25 season. He now earns more than £250,000 per week before turning 18. Talk about generational.
8Federico Valverde
£270,540 p/w
Federico Valverde has won over the Bernabeu faithful with his hardworking efforts and willingness to play wherever he is required. That is not to say he lacked talent. Far from it. He is compelled to play on the right side of midfield, despite the fact that he is plainly more suited to playing centrally.
The 26-year-old is well compensated for his efforts, however. Walking away with nearly £300,000 every week must soften the shock of being forced to play out of position. He may be one of the most underappreciated names in international football, but his club recognises his worth.
7Frenkie De Jong
£308,354 p/w
When you consider Frenkie De Jong’s fantastic salary at Barcelona, it’s no surprise that he was desperate to stay despite linked to Manchester United a couple of years ago. As brilliant as he is, it is difficult to imagine any other elite team in Europe matching the massive salary the Dutch international is now earning.
Rumours about his exit from the Nou Camp have circulated in recent years, but it appears that this is more a case of the club being keen to get his pay off its books than anything else. Even if the player is undeniably talented, this is one of the clearest indications of Barcelona’s financial incompetence to date.
6Jan Oblak
£338,053 p/w
The first and only top-10 player who does not play for Real Madrid or Barcelona. In 2014, the Slovenian legend was chosen to replace long-term loanee Courtois. Over the next decade, Jan Oblak established himself as one of the world’s top number ones.
Interest in his services was prevalent. Despite this, Oblak remained faithful to Diego Simeone and has been generously rewarded in return, earning more than Courtois. In fact, his astronomical income only places him below Manuel Neuer as the world’s highest-paid goalkeeper.
5Jude Bellingham
£338,053 p/w
This figure is likely to rise in the years ahead. In just two seasons in the Spanish capital, Jude Bellingham has emerged as possibly the most crucial member of Los Blancos’ superhero-like squad. During his first season in Spain, the Englishman ended as the club’s top scorer and was voted La Liga Player of the Season.
With Mbappe’s arrival, the 21-year-old has been pushed to the background. It remains to be seen whether the Englishman can reclaim the spotlight from the French superstar. One thing is certain: Bellingham still has more than a decade to earn these staggering sums.
4Vinicius Jr
£338,053 p/w
In the instance of Vinicius Jr., some may argue that his achievements warrant a higher ranking. The Brazilian is one of the world’s top players right now. He has scored in two Champions League finals and has emerged as one of Los Blancos’ most vital offensive options.
Despite this, three of his teammates earn the same or more as the electrifying winger. It is possible that he may eventually sign a new contract that will put him on level with some of Spain’s higher-paid stars.
3David Alaba
£365,156 p/w
Much of what was previously written about Thibaut Courtois also applies to David Alaba. When fit, the Austrian is among Europe’s top defenders. However, an ACL injury not only ended his season, but also made him one of the greatest prospects to miss out on representing his country at Euro 2024.
Alaba joined Real Madrid on a free transfer from Bayern Munich, which allowed him to seek much larger wages than if a price had been paid. While the 32-year-old is likely to be pleased with his salary, there are still two players in the division who earn more than him.
2Kylian Mbappe
£507,161 p/w
Following his long-awaited move to the Santiago Bernabeu, Kylian Mbappe was supposed to be the highest-paid player in the Spanish top division. While the French superstar earns more than half a million pounds each week, there is one higher-paid star in Spain.
The 26-year-old has previously won multiple French league titles, domestic cups, and a World Cup with his country. The 2024 Ballon d’Or contender switched Paris for Real Madrid’s renowned white, making one of the most significant changes in contemporary football history. Mbappe did not immediately achieve new heights in his new club’s colours, but he improved enough to win the European Golden Shoe in his first season.
1Robert Lewandowski
£540,918 p/w
Indeed, Robert Lewandowski earns over £30,000 more per week than Mbappe. This is hardly surprising, given that Barcelona was starving for a goalscorer three years ago, and Lewandowski was looking for a fresh challenge after dominating the Bundesliga.
With a salary of more than £540,000 a week, there must be some doubts about whether an old striker is worth so much money. Lewandowski continued to score goals last season, although his performance has declined from prior years. Could this be another costly miscalculation by Laporta and company?
xz
