The most popular sport in the world is unquestionably football, and with tremendous popularity comes enormous pay. The figures have reached unfathomable heights, and the trend does not appear to be abating.
Salaries for professional football players have increased dramatically in recent years, particularly since large multinationals, oligarchs, and oil states became club owners.
Following Ronaldo’s recent spectacular relocation to Saudi Arabia, here are the top five players currently earning the highest salaries, per Forbes:
1- Cristiano Ronaldo ($210m annually)
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He received a sensational deal in Saudi Arabia as a result of his contentious departure from Manchester United. The Portuguese superstar is currently the highest-paid player in the league when factoring in all of his sponsorship deals.
2- Kylian Mbappe ($136m annually)
Mbappe has solidified his position as the face of French soccer after taking home three of the last four Ligue 1 Player of the Year Awards. Recently, he has exercised that influence.
He was close to joining Real Madrid last summer on a free transfer, but PSG offered him a new bumper deal that saw him go above the likes of Neymar and Messi in earnings. Mbappe was previously the highest-paid player in world football.
3- Lionel Messi ($127M Annually)
On and off the field, Messi already made a king’s ransom, but industry insiders predicted that once he led Argentina to World Cup success in Qatar, his earnings may increase by as much as 20%.
As you may have guessed, his rich PSG deal, plus with endorsements and bonuses, nets him over $127 million every year.
4- Neymar Jr ( Estimated $92m annually)
With a record-breaking $263 million transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, Neymar created history. He renewed his contract in May 2021 through 2025, and he was instrumental in getting Messi to sign on later that year. He presently earns an estimated $92 million annually, making him the fourth most paid football player in the world.
5- Mohamed Salah (Estimated $39.5m annually)
Salah signed a new, three-year deal with Liverpool in August 2022 at £350,000 per week, cementing his position as one of the world’s most efficient forwards. Salah also obtains very big endorsement deals with a number of firms due to his megastar status in Egypt. At the moment, he earns roughly $39.5 million a year.