Money in football has always been a contentious issue. Are footballers overpaid in comparison to other vocations 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 greatest footballers live in 2025, Forbes examined both on-field and off-field revenue, including the amount they receive each year from their club, as well as sponsorships and brand deals. Some stats may stun you. Strap in, grab some popcorn, and let’s get started right now.
10Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
£32m per year
Yamal, who debuted for Barcelona as a 15-year-old in 2023, has helped Spain win the Euro 2024 tournament and returned Barcelona to the top of the La Liga table last season. The club swiftly rewarded him, signing the youthful winger in May to a contract that lasts until 2031. Two months later, he received the Catalan club’s historic No. 10 shirt, which had previously been worn by greats such as Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi.
At only 18 years old, it speaks something about how good he is that none of his accomplishments to date have a shock factor associated to them; it’s just what he does. He is also beginning to translate his on-field success into off-field opportunities, recently adding Beats by Dre to a sponsor roster that already includes Adidas, Konami, and Powerade, as well as trademarking his “304” celebration with the European Union Intellectual Property Office with the goal of selling branded merchandise.
Lamine Yamal’s earnings breakdown
Per hour
£3,652
Per Day
£87,671
Per week
£592,500
Per month
£2,660,000
Per year off-field
£7.5m
Per year on the pitch.
£24.5m
Per Year (Total)
£32m
9Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
£32.7m per year
Jude Bellingham earns an impressive £605,000 per seven days. Along with Declan Rice, the 22-year-old is perhaps England’s most influential midfielder, and he has solidified his place as one of the world’s greatest since joining Real Madrid as the creative heartbeat two summers ago from Borussia Dortmund.
Despite doubts regarding his attitude, most notably his exclusion from Thomas Tuchel’s most recent international squad, he remains a very marketable personality, earning various marketing partnerships. If he continues to win awards and manages to control his rage, his weekly wages are only going to increase, and the sky is most certainly not the limit.
Jude Bellingham’s income breakdown
Per hour
£3,732
Per Day
£89,589
Per week
£605,000
Per month
£2,725,000
Per year off-field
£11.2m
Per year on the pitch.
£21.5m
Per Year (Total)
£32.7m
8Sadio Mane (Al-Nassr)
£40 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, with him earning £40 million per year in addition to his bonuses.
Sadio Mane’s income breakdown
Per hour
£4,566
Per Day
£109,589
Per week
£740,700
Per month
£3,300,000
Per year off-field
£3m
Per year on the pitch.
£37m
Per Year (Total)
£40m
7Mo Salah (Liverpool)
£40.9m 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, he won his second Premier League title, becoming the first player to do so, along with the Golden Boot, Playmaker Award, and PFA Player of the Year.
His wage represents royalty, which is appropriate for one of Liverpool’s greatest players, after signing a two-year deal at the end of the 2024/25 season.
Mo Salah’s salary breakdown.
Per hour
£4,668
Per Day
£112,054
Per week
£757,407
Per month
£3,408,000
Per year off-field
£14.9m
Per year on the pitch.
£26m
Per Year (Total)
£40.9m
6Vinicius 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 anticipated to help Xabi Alonso’s side see a noteworthy resurgence, thus it is not surprising that his annual salary of £42 million continues to climb, leaving his rivals 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
Per Year (Total)
£44m
5Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
£59m 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 is completely deserving of his £59 million annual salary. However, while his off-field salaries remain relatively low in comparison to other players, this is certain to alter for the Premier League’s highest earner.
Erling Haaland’s earnings breakdown
Per hour
£6,735
Per Day
£161,164
Per week
£1,092,444
Per month
£4,916,000
Per year off-field
£14.89m
Per year on the pitch.
£44.6m
Per Year (Total)
£59m
4Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
£70 million per year
Money in football has always been a contentious issue. Are footballers overpaid in comparison to other vocations 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 greatest footballers live in 2025, Forbes examined both on-field and off-field revenue, including the amount they receive each year from their club, as well as sponsorships and brand deals. Some stats may stun you. Strap in, grab some popcorn, and let’s get started right now.
10. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona): £32 million per year.
Yamal, who debuted for Barcelona as a 15-year-old in 2023, has helped Spain win the Euro 2024 tournament and returned Barcelona to the top of the La Liga table last season. The club swiftly rewarded him, signing the youthful winger in May to a contract that lasts until 2031. Two months later, he received the Catalan club’s historic No. 10 shirt, which had previously been worn by greats such as Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi.
At only 18 years old, it speaks something about how good he is that none of his accomplishments to date have a shock factor associated to them; it’s just what he does. He is also beginning to translate his on-field success into off-field opportunities, recently adding Beats by Dre to a sponsor roster that already includes Adidas, Konami, and Powerade, as well as trademarking his “304” celebration with the European Union Intellectual Property Office with the goal of selling branded merchandise.
Lamine Yamal’s earnings breakdown
Per hour
£3,652
Per Day
£87,671
Per week
£592,500
Per month
£2,660,000
Per year off-field
£7.5m
Per year on the pitch.
£24.5m
Per Year (Total)
£32m
9. Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) earns £32.7 million per year.
Jude Bellingham earns an impressive £605,000 per seven days. Along with Declan Rice, the 22-year-old is perhaps England’s most influential midfielder, and he has solidified his place as one of the world’s greatest since joining Real Madrid as the creative heartbeat two summers ago from Borussia Dortmund.
Despite doubts regarding his attitude, most notably his exclusion from Thomas Tuchel’s most recent international squad, he remains a very marketable personality, earning various marketing partnerships. If he continues to win awards and manages to control his rage, his weekly wages are only going to increase, and the sky is most certainly not the limit.
Jude Bellingham’s income breakdown
Per hour
£3,732
Per Day
£89,589
Per week
£605,000
Per month
£2,725,000
Per year off-field
£11.2m
Per year on the pitch.
£21.5m
Per Year (Total)
£32.7m
8. Sadio Mane (Al-Nassr): £40 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.
Sadio Mane, Papa Bouba Diop, and Kalidou Koulibaly are all wearing Senegal kits with a Senegal motif.
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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, with him earning £40 million per year in addition to his bonuses.
Sadio Mane’s income breakdown
Per hour
£4,566
Per Day
£109,589
Per week
£740,700
Per month
£3,300,000
Per year off-field
£3m
Per year on the pitch.
£37m
Per Year (Total)
£40m
7
Mo Salah (Liverpool)
£40.9m 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, he won his second Premier League title, becoming the first player to do so, along with the Golden Boot, Playmaker Award, and PFA Player of the Year.
His wage represents royalty, which is appropriate for one of Liverpool’s greatest players, after signing a two-year deal at the end of the 2024/25 season.
Mo Salah’s salary breakdown.
Per hour
£4,668
Per Day
£112,054
Per week
£757,407
Per month
£3,408,000
Per year off-field
£14.9m
Per year on the pitch.
£26m
Per Year (Total)
£40.9m
6
Vinicius 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 anticipated to help Xabi Alonso’s side see a noteworthy resurgence, thus it is not surprising that his annual salary of £42 million continues to climb, leaving his rivals 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-field
£32m
Per Year (total)
£44m
5
Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
£59m per year
Erling Haaland has to go down as one of the best strikers in world football for one reason. He’s the best at putting the ball in the back of the opponent’s net. The Norwegian has set the world alight ever since he graced the Premier League with his presence. He smashed the goalscoring record for a single season, scoring 36 times in only 35 appearances during his debut campaign in the competition.
This frightening feat then carried over into the next season, and he continues to be a defender’s worst nightmare in 2025. For that reason alone, he’s fully deserving of his £59m annual take home. But while his off-field bursaries are still relatively small compared to other players, this is certainly bound to change for the Premier League’s highest earner.
Erling Haaland’s income breakdown
Per Hour
£6,735
Per Day
£161,164
Per Week
£1,092,444
Per Month
£4,916,000
Per year off-field
£14.89m
Per year on-field
£44.6m
Per Year (total)
£59m
4
Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
£70 million per year
Kylian Mbappe burst onto the scene at Monaco during the 2016/17 season as a youngster, scoring 26 goals as a teenager. It led to 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 but completed his inevitable move to Real Madrid during last summer after scoring 212 goals in 260 appearances in all competitions for the French giants. In 2023, following Mbappe expressing his desire not to renew his existing contract with PSG, the club accepted a €300m bid from Al-Hilal, who reportedly were prepared to offer him an eye-watering €200m-a-year salary. However, Mbappe rejected the deal.
Now plying his trade for the Champions League greats, Paris-born Mbappe is the Spanish top division’s second-highest earner on £505,000 a week. In turn, the talismanic Frenchman will earn a whopping £56m every year for the entirety of his five-year contract, while off-field riches boost that sum up to £70m every 12 months.
Kylian Mbappe’s income breakdown
Per Hour
£7,990
Per Day
£191,780
Per Week
£1,296,200
Per Month
£5,830,000
Per year off-field
£18m
Per year on-field
£52m
Per Year (total)
£70m
3Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad)
£77 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 spectacular 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 cruel nickname, but the crazy money he is on will undoubtedly help to soothe the blow, with him recently adding a new supercar to his garage – possibly as a therapy purchase.
Karim Benzema’s revenue breakdown
Per hour
£8,789
Per Day
£210,095
Per week
£1,425,925
Per month
£6,416,666
Per year off-field
£3m
Per year on the pitch.
£74m
Per year (total).
£77m
2Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
£96.7 million per year
Lionel Messi helped Inter Miami win its first championship just months after guiding Argentina to its 16th Copa America triumph, the second of his career. 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
£11,038
Per Day
£264,931
Per week
£1,790,740
Per month
£8,058,000
Per year off-field
£52m
Per year on the pitch.
£44.6m
Per year (total).
£96.7m
1Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr)
£208 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 over 900 million followers on 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 under £50 million per 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.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s revenue breakdown.
Per hour
£23,074
Per Day
£569,863
Per week
£3,851,000
Per month
£17,330,000
Per year off-field
£37m
Per year on the pitch.
£171m
Per year (total).
£208m
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