Who Are the Highest Paid Soccer Players?

After Kylian Mbappé overtook the top spot of highest-paid soccer players last year, Cristiano Ronaldo is back on top in 2023. As a result of a lucrative Saudi Professional League contract and endorsements, Ronaldo is not only the highest-paid soccer player, but the highest-paid athlete in the world.

The former star of Juventus and Real Madrid did not hesitate to accept a staggering two-and-a-half-year contract worth 200 million euros from the Saudi Professional League. The 38-year-old native of Portugal terminated his contract with Manchester United and joined Al Nassr after failing to receive serious offers from European clubs¹.

Mbappé was in line to remain the world’s highest-paid soccer player and athlete in the world. However, the Paris Saint-Germain forward decided to bypass a meeting with another Saudi club, Al Hilal, to discuss a reported $1.1 billion contract².

With Mbappé staying in France, Lionel Messi, who signed with MLS club Inter Miami, also passed him as the highest-paid soccer player in the world. According to Forbes, Neymar, and Mohamed Salah retain their spots in the Top 5 among the highest-paid soccer players in the world³.

Here are the soccer players with the largest soccer contracts and annual earnings with all five being attackers and goal-scorers and two of them—Messi and Ronaldo—are among the most famous athletes of all time.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr $136,000,000

Forward Cristiano Ronaldo was on a Manchester United squad that didn’t want him any longer. In fact, nobody seemed to want CR7 in Europe. After agreeing to terminate his contract with Manchester United, the outlook for Ronaldo playing elite European football was looking bleak.

Nevertheless, Ronaldo has claimed the top spot as the highest-paid soccer player in 2023. Ronaldo is up two spots from No. 3 in 2022 as the highest-paid athlete in the world, according to Forbes.

Another good test. We keep improving!💪🏼
Thank you to all the fans here in Japan for the incredible support!
Hope to see you again soon!🙌🏼🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/o8jxOfvmM1

— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) July 27, 2023

Thanks to $90 million in endorsements, Ronaldo was able to earn $6 million more than Messi thus far this year. Currently, Ronaldo has earned $90 million in endorsements and $46 million from soccer contracts⁴.

Once he fully reaps the benefits of his 200-million-euro deal with Al Nassr, Ronaldo’s net worth and on-field earnings will increase exponentially. So, while Europe didn’t want the aging Portuguese superstar, his bank account and finances are doing just fine in Saudi Arabia.

2. Lionel Messi, Inter Miami $130,000,000

Lionel Messi had the biggest sports contract even when he signed a four-year pact with FC Barcelona for $674 million and was the leading earner in sports in 2019 ($127 million). But, after UEFA’s Financial Fair Play Act, the club has had to curb its spending.

Playing in what is expected to be his final World Cup, Messi finally won the grandest prize in soccer with Argentina. Argentina had the third-best odds to win the 2022 World Cup at Soccer betting sites.

MESSI’S FIRST GOAL FOR INTER MIAMI AND IT’S A GAME-WINNER 🤯

WHAT A MOMENT

(via @MLS)
pic.twitter.com/SoF9dSrbDY

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 22, 2023

With nothing left to prove in Europe, Messi flew over the pond to the US to sign with Inter Miami of Major League Soccer.  Backed by co-owner David Beckham, Messi inked a two-and-a-half-year contract worth up to $150 million. Messi’s deal includes lucrative endorsement deals with Apple and Adidas⁵.

His career earnings are reportedly expected to reach $1.6 billion in the US⁶. Through the first half of 2023, Messi has already banked $65 million as a player and $65 million in endorsements⁷.

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3. Kylian Mbappé, Paris Saint-Germain $120,000,000

In 2022, 24-year-old Mbappé was the highest-paid soccer player in the world. After reportedly rejecting a $1.1 billion transfer offer from Al Hilal of the Saudi Professional League, Mbappé has slipped to No. 3 on the Forbes highest-paid athletes list.

Paris Saint-Germain’s forward Kylian Mbappé refused to meet with Saudi Arabian soccer team Al Hilal—which offered him a world-record $1.1 billion deal—as rumors swirl about the Frenchman’s transfer, according to French sports newspaper L’Equipe. pic.twitter.com/PoyhAopFxD

— Forbes (@Forbes) July 27, 2023

The youngster has not built up as much of a lucrative brand for advertisers as Ronaldo and Messi so far in his career. Consequently, Mbappé’s endorsement deals have not been nearly as large this year. That being said, expect the emerging face of soccer to quickly attract big dollars from advertisers.

Mbappé earns endorsement money off the pitch from sponsors like Nike, Dior, Hublot, Oakley, and Panini. And while it took Messi and Ronaldo until after age 30 to make over $1 million combined in salary and endorsements in a year, Mbappé did it at the tender young age of 23.

Spanish La Liga heavyweights Real Madrid have been pursuing Mbappé for years, but the Frenchman decided to stay in his homeland, urged by French president Emmanuel Macron to stay put in Paris and not sign with Real Madrid.

With over a billion dollars, the Saudis have been unable to lure Mbappé out of France, either. It appears that Mbappé is content staying close to home in Paris (for now). Regardless of where he plays, Mbappé will cash in well into the future.

4. Neymar, Paris Saint-Germain $85,000,000

Mbappé’s teammate, Brazilian superstar Neymar, remains in the Top 5 of the highest-paid soccer players in the world. Forward Neymar Da Silva Santos Júnior (Neymar) was previously the highest-paid footballer in the world. In 2017, Neymar signed a record-breaking $263 million contract in a transfer from Barcelona⁸.

PSG activated a €222m release clause to get Neymar in what was deemed “the transfer of the century.” And, Les Rouge-et-Bleu later inked Mbappé as they built one of the greatest soccer powerhouses we have seen in terms of living legends all still playing together.

Neymar did not move up or down in career earnings and endorsements this year. He still trails Ronaldo, Messi, and Mbappé. However, Neymar is still a Top 5 earner in soccer with $50 million from his PSG contract and $35 million in endorsements⁹.

5. Mohamed Salah, Liverpool $53,000,000

For the second consecutive year, Mohamed Salah is the fifth-highest-earning soccer player in the world. Since joining the Premier League for the 2017-18 season, Salah has scored at least 19 goals. In 38 matches this past year, Salah notched 19 goals and 12 assists for Liverpool¹⁰.

Salah is getting older, but he still has a lot of play left in him. That being said, don’t expect Salah to be making the same money Ronaldo and Messi are after his 35th birthday.

6. Erling Haaland, Manchester City $52,000,000

The most accomplished soccer player over the last year has been 23-year-old Erling Haaland. Messi still ranks among the best in the world at 36, but any European club would rather have Haaland signed to a long-term deal.

Messi has a strong chance of winning the Ballon d’Or despite moving to the US. However, Haaland is only 23 and has not reached the prime years of his career.

🤖 The monstrous stats of the birthday boy, Erling Haaland:

🇩🇪 Dortmund:
👕 89 games
⚽ 86 goals
📊 0.97 goal/game

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Man City:
👕 53 games
⚽ 52 goals
📊 0.98 goal/game

🇪🇺 Champions League:
👕 30 games
⚽ 35 goals
📊 1.17 goals/game

🇳🇴 Norway:
👕 25 games
⚽ 24 goals
📊 0.96… pic.twitter.com/1GQGmvoTmj

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) July 21, 2023

Haaland is coming off an incredible campaign with Manchester City. In addition to winning the Premier League and Champions League, Haaland won the 2022-23 Premier League Golden Boot after scoring the most goals.

Since joining Manchester City last year, the Norwegian striker’s bank account has swelled. In 2022, Haaland was not in the Top 10 of the largest earners in soccer. Now, he is No. 6 on the list of the biggest money-makers in soccer.

Look for Haaland to continue to have an exponential rise financially. So far this year, Haaland made $40 million in on-field earnings. His endorsement deals should witness an incredible bump over the next few years.

The Top 10 Highest-Paid Soccer Players

This list should change somewhat in 2024. 39-year-old Andres Iniesta is nearing the end of his career and is currently a free agent after playing for Vissel Kobe in the 2022-23 campaign. It will be tough for him to attract top dollars at this stage in his career.

Haaland’s endorsement deals should explode over the next two years. Additionally, he has a release clause worth 200 million euros next summer and 175 million euros in 2025. Haaland signed a lucrative deal with Manchester City after transferring from Borussia Dortmund last year.

However, Haaland still has a lot more money coming his way. The 23-year-old should overtake Salah in the Top 5 rankings next year.

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