2025 Football Players Income ranking: Ronaldo leads with $280M, Messi with $130M
Cristiano Ronaldo has once again claimed the title of the highest-paid footballer in the world for the 2025-26 season, according to Forbes. With an impressive earning estimate of $280 million, the Portuguese superstar continues to shine both on and off the pitch, solidifying his status as football’s first billionaire.
This marks the sixth time in the last decade that Ronaldo has topped the Forbes list, highlighting his enduring legacy in the sport. Just over a week ago, Bloomberg announced that the 40-year-old had officially crossed the billion-dollar threshold, a milestone that speaks volumes about his impact in the world of football.
Playing for Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, Ronaldo’s earnings far surpass that of his closest rival, Lionel Messi. The Argentine star, now with Inter Miami, is estimated to earn $130 million—more from endorsements than his playing contract.
Following them in the rankings is French forward Karim Benzema, who pulls in $104 million at Al Ittihad, showcasing the lucrative contracts available in the Saudi league. Sadio Mane, Ronaldo’s teammate at Al Nassr, rounds out the Saudi trio in the top ten, earning an estimated $54 million.
The landscape of football’s elite earners has shifted slightly, with one less player from Saudi Arabia in the top ten compared to last year. Brazilian star Neymar, who was once third with $110 million, has returned to Santos and now earns a modest $38 million.
Despite the English Premier League’s record-breaking spending of £2.6 billion ($3.5 billion) on transfers this summer, only two players from the league—Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah—made it into the top ten.
LaLiga, however, boasts four representatives, including Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr., and Jude Bellingham from Real Madrid, and Barcelona’s young sensation Lamine Yamal, who rounds out the list in tenth place with $43 million.
Forbes estimates that the combined earnings of the world’s ten highest-paid football players will reach an astonishing $945 million during the 2025-26 campaign, a testament to the sport’s immense financial power and global appeal.
