Just three Premier League players have made it into the top 10 highest earners in global football, as the influx of cash from the Saudi Pro League disrupts the sport’s wealth hierarchy. The Premier League has long been known for its ability to offer competitive salaries and a high level of competition, attracting the world’s finest talent.
However, since Cristiano Ronaldo’s mid-season transfer to Al-Nassr in 2022-23, the Saudi Pro League has been making waves. Over the past two summer transfer windows, several top stars have swapped Europe for the Gulf state.
One of the latest to make the move was England international Ivan Toney, who now earns a substantial salary at Al-Ahli, although not enough to place him in the world’s top 10. Football hasn’t always dominated the list of highest earners in global sports, with American sports, particularly basketball, often offering mega-money deals.
However, in 2024, the financial power of football is evident. Earlier this year, Forbes’ list of the highest-earning athletes featured five footballers in the top 10. Now, the publication has revealed the top 10 earners within football itself, reports the Mirror.
Forbes’ methodology for calculating player earnings includes annual on-field earnings such as base salaries, bonuses and in some instances, club-based image rights agreements. It also factors in off-field income, which encompasses ‘annual cash from endorsements, licensing, appearances and memorabilia, as well as businesses operated by the players’.
The figures provided by Forbes are in dollars, with Mirror Sport converting these to pounds based on the conversion rates at the time of writing. All figures are projected estimates for the 2024-25 season, except for Lionel Messi, who plays in a league that doesn’t follow the FIFA calendar.
10: Kevin De Bruyne (£30m)
Despite interest from Saudi Arabia, De Bruyne stayed with Manchester City for the 2024-25 season. He continues to earn a substantial income as he enters the final year of his contract with the Premier League club.
Approximately 90 percent of the Belgian’s earnings come from on-field activities, with his wages being among the highest in the Premier League. His earnings could potentially increase next year if he decides to make a move to Saudi Arabia.
9: Sadio Mane (£40m)
The first of four Saudi-based players on our list, Mane moved to Al-Nassr in 2023, joining forces with Cristiano Ronaldo after a challenging stint at Bayern Munich. Similar to De Bruyne, his wealth is primarily derived from his footballing income, with endorsements and other deals making up a minor portion.
The Senegalese star has invested some of his earnings back in his home country, funding the construction of a hospital in Bambaly in 2021 and supporting other infrastructure projects including a school, post office and petrol station.
8: Mohamed Salah (£40.8m)
Mane’s ex-Liverpool colleague, Salah, ranks eighth with a net worth of £40.8m. Unlike Mane, Salah chose to remain at Anfield when his teammate departed. The Egyptian forward became Liverpool’s top earner when he signed a new contract in 2022, although this deal only extends until the end of the current season.
His on-pitch earnings are less than those of his former teammate, but they’re boosted by an estimated £13.9m in off-field earnings, which include endorsement deals with Vodafone, Mountain View Egypt, Pepsi and Adidas.
7: Vinicius Junior (£42.3m)
Vinicius Junior, who is leading the race for the 2024 Ballon d’Or, is the second-youngest player on the list and the only newcomer in the top 10. His substantial contract with Real Madrid, signed in 2022, has been supplemented by various off-field deals in Latin America.
At the tender age of 24, this Brazilian sensation already boasts two Champions League titles and three La Liga crowns. He also netted in both finals, scoring the decisive goal against Liverpool in 2022 and sealing the victory against Borussia Dortmund in 2024.
6: Erling Haaland (£46.2m)
Haaland is just a few days younger than Vinicius Junior and is the youngest on the list. The Norwegian international has one Champions League title to his name, which he won during his debut season with Manchester City.
With 73 goals in as many games, Haaland is on track to become the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals. Over three-quarters of his earnings come from on-field activities, but that still leaves more than £10m in off-field income.
5: Kylian Mbappe (£69.3m)
Despite taking a pay cut to move from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid, Mbappe remains in the top five. He’s currently embroiled in a dispute with his former club PSG over unpaid wages, with a hearing set to commence this week.
The 25 year old can attribute an estimated £15m of his £69.3m total to off-field earnings. However, it’s yet to be seen how his new club will affect his future earnings. Already a World Cup winner with France, he now has the opportunity to win the Champions League for the first time as a Madrid player after falling short in Paris.
4: Karim Benzema (£80.1m)
Mbappe’s fellow countryman, Benzema, is the next big name in the Saudi Pro League. The former Ballon d’Or winner ranks fourth based on his on-field earnings alone, with off-field income only contributing a small portion to his total.
The 36 year old joined reigning Saudi champions Al-Ittihad in 2023 but had an injury-riddled first season. However, he has scored in five consecutive games this season, including a hat-trick against Al-Wahda, helping the Jeddah-based team stay in the title race.
3. Neymar (£84.7m)
Neymar, like Benzema, had his first season in the Saudi Pro League marred by injuries. Despite an ACL tear limiting him to just three league games, Al-Hilal still clinched the league title.
He’s now nearing a return for Jorge Jesus’ side. Over £23m of Neymar’s earnings are believed to come from endorsement deals. He has partnerships with several brands, both in Saudi Arabia and abroad, which have boosted his hefty contract.
2. Lionel Messi (£104m)
Major League Soccer adjusted its salary rules to enable Inter Miami to sign Messi. The Argentine star is estimated to earn between £39-47m per year. Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas revealed that MLS’ Apple TV deal also contributed to the club’s ability to sign the seasoned player.
Lionel Messi might be one of the top earners on the pitch, but he’s even more successful in his financial ventures outside of football. The iconic player has secured lucrative deals with big names such as Adidas and Konami, extending his brand well beyond his time at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. Currently in the MLS, Messi has a contract that could potentially run until the end of the 2026 season.
1: Cristiano Ronaldo (£219.5m)
Ronaldo reigns supreme when it comes to earnings. His staggering Al-Nassr contract has skyrocketed him to the position of world football’s highest-paid player by a significant margin. This holds true even without factoring in his off-field income which is estimated at around £50.1m.
Forbes recognises 39 year old Ronaldo as the second highest earner among all still-active athletes in any sport for a single year, with only Floyd Mayweather ahead of him. Apart from playing, Ronaldo boasts several brand endorsements and entrepreneurial ventures including a global hotel chain.
Even if he leaves Saudi Arabia after his current contract ends in summer 2025, his financial influx is expected to remain steady.
Ronaldo shared his commitment to the sport in an interview with Rio Ferdinand earlier this year: “I give everything, to 40, 41, it doesn’t matter. I give my body for 25 years of football and I cannot give more because age doesn’t allow to go further,” he explained. “This is why I extend and take care of myself and keep working. Because I know for two or three years more I can still produce something good.”
“But after that I don’t even want to think about that. Let me think in the present and prepare other parts, like my business area. I will miss it and I will probably be a little lost.”