2025 finds Cristiano Ronaldo still sitting on football’s financial throne. At 40, the Portuguese icon is showing no signs of slowing down — on the pitch or in his business empire. His year has included record-breaking goals for Al-Nassr, new investments in tech and health brands, and even the launch of a film studio with director Matthew Vaughn. The result? An estimated $275 million in earnings over the past 12 months, leaving every other player in the world trailing in his wake.
Lionel Messi remains the heartbeat of Major League Soccer, with Inter Miami games still selling out and his endorsement portfolio as strong as ever. Kylian Mbappé’s blockbuster move to Real Madrid has cemented him as the sport’s next global face, while Erling Haaland keeps smashing goal records and building his own off-field brand. Meanwhile, Neymar has taken a different path, returning to Brazil to play for Santos, where his homecoming deal reportedly matches the biggest contracts of his career.
This ranking looks at the 10 richest football players in 2025 — combining club salaries, bonuses, endorsements, and off-field business ventures.
10 • Sadio Mané – $40M
Sadio Mané’s decision to leave Bayern Munich for Al-Nassr in August 2023 turned him into one of the richest footballers in 2025. The Senegalese forward signed for a reported €30 million transfer fee and is believed to earn €40 million per year, net and tax-free, through the 2025/26 season.
While his first season in Saudi Arabia had its ups and downs, Mané’s global profile hasn’t dimmed. He remains a national hero in Senegal, funding hospitals, schools, and infrastructure projects back home. On the pitch, he has rediscovered his form alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, helping Al-Nassr challenge for titles in the Saudi Pro League.
Commercially, Mané is an influential figure off the pitch — his partnerships with New Balance and Generation Amazing continue to tie his brand to social impact initiatives, a rare distinction among football’s elite earners.
9 • Robert Lewandowski – $50M
Barcelona’s No. 9 deal pays roughly €20m per year plus performance bonuses, keeping him among La Liga’s highest-paid players. The Polish striker reportedly turned down a €100m-per-season offer from the Saudi Pro League, choosing to stay at Camp Nou and chase La Liga titles and Champions League glory. That choice keeps him on the shortlist of the richest football players in 2025.
Commercially, he remains a powerhouse: long-running campaigns with Nike, Huawei and Head & Shoulders, besides investments in restaurants and tech in Poland. The blend of on-field reliability and brand value sets his 2025 take around $50M.
8 • Kevin De Bruyne – $57M
Kevin De Bruyne’s move to Napoli in June 2025 marked the end of an era at Manchester City, where he spent just under a decade shaping one of the most successful sides in English football history. The Belgium international joined the Serie A champions on a free transfer after City opted not to renew his deal, signing a two-year contract with an option for a third.
Although his salary at Napoli — around €11M per season plus bonuses — is lower than what he earned in Manchester, De Bruyne’s commercial strength keeps his total annual earnings at $57M. Endorsements with Nike, Therabody, and Orange remain active, and his marketability in both Belgium and Italy ensures that he stays on the shortlist of the richest football players in 2025.
Even at 34, De Bruyne’s arrival in Naples was greeted by fans as a coup, underlining that he’s still considered one of the best playmakers of his generation.
7 • Mohamed Salah – $68M
Mohamed Salah remains the face of Liverpool and one of the Premier League’s biggest global stars. In 2025, his salary and bonuses at Anfield — estimated at $35M per year — keep him among the top earners in English football. His current contract runs until 2027, with the club determined to keep him despite repeated interest from Saudi Arabian sides.
Off the pitch, Salah is a marketing force. Endorsements with Adidas, Pepsi, and Vodafone are central to his commercial portfolio, while his charitable projects in Egypt strengthen his reputation far beyond football. Combined, his total earnings in 2025 reach $68M, placing him firmly among the richest football players this year.
Beloved at Anfield and idolized across the Arab world, Salah’s mix of consistent performances and global brand power shows no signs of fading.
6 • Neymar Jr. – $75M
Neymar’s return to Santos in 2025 always felt like a matter of time. After leaving PSG, injuries and inconsistency meant fans haven’t seen him at his best level for several seasons.
Even so, the financial numbers remain staggering. His salary is set at $50M per year, combined with $25M in endorsements through long-term partners like Puma, Red Bull, and Konami. In Brazil, his commercial pull is stronger than ever, with TV rights and sponsorships tied to his presence giving Santos unprecedented visibility.
At 33, Neymar’s homecoming is more than symbolic — it shows that even beyond his peak years, he remains one of the world’s richest players in 2025.
5 • Erling Haaland – $62M
At just 24, Erling Haaland is already one of football’s wealthiest stars. The Manchester City striker earned $48M on the field last season and another $14M off it, bringing his 2025 total to $62M.
Even though he missed out on the Premier League Golden Boot in 2024/25 — finishing seven goals behind Mohamed Salah — Haaland secured his financial future in January by signing the longest contract in Premier League history. The nine-and-a-half-year deal keeps him at City until 2034, surpassing Cole Palmer’s nine-year agreement with Chelsea.
Off the pitch, Haaland’s endorsements with Nike, Clear, and Beats by Dre underline his status as one of the most marketable athletes in Europe. His mix of scoring power and global appeal ensures he remains in the upper tier of the richest football players in 2025.
4 • Karim Benzema – $104M
Karim Benzema’s switch from Real Madrid to Al-Ittihad in 2023 was one of the biggest stories in football — and one of the most lucrative. The Ballon d’Or winner signed a deal reportedly worth $200 million over two seasons, putting him among the highest-paid footballers in the Saudi Pro League.
Despite injury setbacks and speculation about an MLS move before the 2026 World Cup, Benzema’s net worth continues to rise. His on-field earnings remain massive, and he still cashes in from a select group of endorsements, most notably Adidas.
Benzema keeps a low profile compared to Cristiano Ronaldo or Neymar, rarely appearing in the media, but his impact is undeniable. He brought instant star power to Al-Ittihad, boosting shirt sales and ticket demand across the league. Even if his future lies outside Saudi Arabia, the French striker has already secured his place among football’s top money-makers in 2025.
3 • Kylian Mbappé – $110M
Kylian Mbappé fulfilled a lifelong dream in June 2024 by signing with Real Madrid, a move that instantly reshaped the football market. In his debut season, the French forward scored 42 goals in all competitions, though Madrid endured a mixed campaign — finishing behind Barcelona in La Liga and crashing out of the Champions League in the quarterfinals against Arsenal. Adding salt to the wound, his former club Paris Saint-Germain lifted the Champions League trophy just months after his departure.
Despite that setback, Mbappé’s individual milestones continued. He became only the third player in French history to score 50 international goals, joining Thierry Henry and Olivier Giroud. His earnings for 2025 total $70M on the field and $20M off it, thanks to endorsement deals with Nike, Oakley, and EA Sports.
At just 26, he has already won a World Cup, multiple Ligue 1 titles, and now leads Madrid’s quest for Champions League dominance. With both his on-field success and unmatched commercial reach, Mbappé sits firmly among the richest football players in 2025.
2 • Lionel Messi – $135M
Lionel Messi keeps Inter Miami front and center in MLS. His on-field package is around $60M, boosted by bonuses and a revenue share tied to MLS Season Pass. Since his 2023 arrival, the club’s valuation has surged to $1.2 billion, making it the second most valuable in MLS history.
The Argentine’s off-field portfolio (~$75M) is equally impressive, with long-standing partnerships including Adidas, Lay’s, Mastercard, PepsiCo and his revenue-sharing deal with Apple/MLS Season Pass. Forbes highlighted Messi as one of just four athletes in the world to make more than $75M off the pitch in 2025.
At 37, with his contract set to expire at the end of 2025, questions remain about whether he will sign an extension in Miami or consider one last chapter elsewhere.
1 • Cristiano Ronaldo – $275M
Cristiano Ronaldo’s new deal with Al-Nassr, signed in 2025 and running until 2027, guarantees him around €15.2 million per month — that’s nearly €182 million per year (around $195M) in salary alone. The contract also reportedly includes a 5% stake in the Saudi club, making him both player and shareholder, and ensuring he remains the highest-paid footballer in history.
On the pitch, Ronaldo continues to defy age. He has already surpassed 937 career goals and is openly chasing the once-unthinkable milestone of 1,000 goals. In two and a half seasons at Al-Nassr, he has scored almost a goal per game, proving he is still a dominant force at 40 years old.
Beyond football, Ronaldo added around $50M in commercial income. His partnerships with Nike, Herbalife, and Clear, along with investments in Whoop, Vista Alegre, and his film studio UR•Marv, keep his brand among the strongest in sport.
The Portuguese star also has personal goals that keep him motivated: aiming to play in a sixth World Cup in 2026, something no player has ever done before, and the dream of one day sharing the pitch with his son, Cristiano Jr., who already plays in Al-Nassr’s academy.
Total earnings in 2025: $275 million — cementing his place at the top of the list of the richest football players in the world.
