The highest paid footballers and top-tier players are often paid ridiculous amounts of money each year.
Sometimes it's even when they are sitting on the bench, doing absolutely nothing for their club.
But how do the wages compare to the amounts paid out nearly 15 years ago?
Back in 2010, we looked at the wages of some of the best footballers worldwide.
It was the build-up to the World Cup, and players were signing new contracts, endorsement deals, and receiving eye-watering amounts of money.
At the time, the top wages were dominated by the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, with only four Premier League players making the top ten.
They were Carlos Tevez (£13.8 million) for Manchester City, Frank Lampard (£12.8 million) for Chelsea, John Terry (£10 million) for Chelsea, and Steven Gerrard (£9 million) for Liverpool.
Of course, these weren't just salaries. The figures also included endorsements such as boot deals.
Messi led the way with a staggering £29.6 million, and Ronaldo was just behind on £27 million.
The two players were at the peak of their game at this point, but are they still the highest paid footballers in the world?
Even if they are the best players in the world, is it fair that they get so much when so many of the smaller clubs struggle to break even on a weekly basis?
2025 Top Earners In Football
If the money being doled out to footballers in 2010 was insane, it is a drop in the ocean compared to the wages on offer in 2025.
Unsurprisingly, Ronaldo and Messi are still top earners, but both are on far more money now than they were 10 years ago.
| Player | Club | Salary | Endorsements | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Al Nassr | $220–225 million | $50–65 million | $275–285 million |
| Lionel Messi | Inter Miami | $60 million | $75 million | $135 million |
| Neymar | Santos | $80 million | $30 million | $110 million |
| Karim Benzema | Al-Ittihad | $100 million | $4 million | $104 million |
| Kylian Mbappé | Real Madrid | $70 million | $20 million | $90 million |
| Erling Haaland | Manchester City | $46–48 million | $11–14 million | $57–60 million |
| Vinicius Jr. | Real Madrid | $40–44 million | $12–15 million | $52–55 million |
| Sadio Mané | Al Nassr | $47–48 million | $4 million | $51–52 million |
| Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | $35 million | $18 million | $53 million |
| Kevin De Bruyne | Manchester City | $35 million | $4 million | $39 million |
The earnings figures provided for the top footballers include both their salaries and income from endorsements/sponsorships.
How The Saudis Changed The Game
Saudi Arabian clubs have significantly influenced the list in 2025 and several of the highest paid footballers now play in the Saudi Pro League.
Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr, Karim Benzema at Al-Ittihad, and Sadio Mané at Al Nassr are among the top earners globally and were offered unprecedented salaries to get them there.
The Saudi Pro League's financial might threw the cat among the pigeons and in just the first month of the 2023/24 season, they reported a 650% increase in revenue, indicating the growing financial power of these clubs.
Saudi clubs, particularly PIF-owned ones, have become major players in the transfer market. Al Hilal alone spent more than €353 million in a single transfer window, outspending many top European clubs.
Beyond just high salaries, Saudi clubs have successfully lured globally renowned players, enhancing the league's profile and attracting global attention.
The problem that they have is that attendance figures in Saudi are woeful. Top tier footballers love the crowds and the atmosphere which is sadly lacking in their new homes.
The Saudi Pro League had an average attendance of 8,354 per game in the 2024-25 season, and the lowest recorded attendance for a Saudi Pro League match in the 2024-25 season was just 85 spectators, which occurred at the match between Al-Orobah and Al-Tai on May 26, 2025.
Yes, you read that correctly – 8 5 – in total!
Let's Talk About Cristiano Ronaldo
I get it, he's a great footballer, probably the best in the world but hot damn if his new contract extension with Al Nassr made my jaw drop.
So what did the Portuguese talisman get to stay in Saudi for another two years??
Annual Salary: Ronaldo will now earn £178 million (about $224 million) per year in wages alone, which is a substantial increase compared to his previous deal.
Signing Bonus: He received a £24.5 million ($33.7 million) signing-on fee, which rises to £38 million ($48 million) if he completes the second year of the contract.
Bonuses: The contract includes performance-related bonuses, such as £4 million for winning the Golden Boot and £8 million if Al-Nassr wins the Saudi league title.
Equity Stake: Ronaldo was also granted a 15% ownership stake in Al-Nassr, valued at around £33 million ($45.4 million).
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Additional Perks: The deal covers extensive personal perks, including a dedicated staff and private jet expenses.
In total, Ronaldo is set to earn at least £492 million ($620 million) over the two years, and potentially much more if he achieves the built-in bonuses.
This new deal is a clear and substantial increase over his previous contract with Al-Nassr.
It is also the most lucrative in football history and surpasses his previous contract in both salary and bonuses.
Are Players Worth Their Wages?
When comparing this to 15 years ago, it makes for astonishing reading. Football wages and earnings have accelerated at a ridiculous rate, and it doesn't look like slowing down anytime soon!
But for all the money these footballers are paid, do the clubs recoup the costs?
In 2018, Manchester United sold 2,850,000 club jerseys. Pogba's name graced more Utd jerseys than anyone else that year, putting him third in the world for shirt sales.
He was eclipsed by Ronaldo in second place, who, combined with Gareth Bale, sold 2.29 million shirts worldwide for Real Madrid at the time.
And, proving it's all about the player and not the club when Cristiano Ronaldo joined Juventus, the team sold $60 million worth of his jerseys in 24 hours.
And topping the list for shirt sales is Lionel Messi. His name is on the back of more club and country jerseys than any other footballer in the world.
When he launched his own official store online in April 2019, it took only three days to surpass the total monthly sales of the official Real Madrid and Manchester City online stores in China.
It's essential to remember that football is not only a sport but also a business that revolves around supply and demand, media rights, sponsorship, merchandise, ticket sales, and other revenue streams.
Here are some of the key factors that contribute to the high salaries of football players:
Talent and Scarcity
There's a high demand for top-level players, but they are in short supply.
This principle of supply and demand applies to all markets, and football is no exception.
The better you are, the more clubs want you and the more they are willing to pay!
Revenue Generation
Football clubs generate enormous revenue from multiple streams, including broadcasting rights, sponsorships, merchandise sales, and ticket sales.
Clubs also earn substantial income from participating in various leagues and tournaments.
The players are a significant part of this revenue generation because their performance and popularity drive these income streams.
Broadcasting Rights
With the advent of Pay-TV and global broadcasting, clubs now earn considerable income from selling their broadcasting rights.
These rights are sold not only in the domestic market but also globally, which brings a substantial influx of revenue.
The more popular and better the player, the higher the viewership and the greater the revenue from broadcasting rights.
Commercialisation and Globalisation
Football has become a global sport, with fans from all over the world.
This global appeal has resulted in lucrative sponsorship deals and merchandise sales, contributing significantly to club revenue and the pockets of the highest paid footballers.
Players often have individual sponsorship deals, further boosting their income.
Brand value
Top players often have a high brand value, and their presence in a club can significantly increase the club's brand value as well.
This brand value translates into various commercial opportunities for both the club and the player, resulting in higher wages for the player.
Competition
Football clubs compete fiercely for top talent, which drives up players' wages.
When multiple clubs are interested in a player, their value increases, and they can negotiate higher wages.
Players' agents play a crucial role in negotiating contracts and salaries, and a skilled agent can significantly increase a player's wage.
In essence, the economics behind the world's highest paid footballers is multi-faceted, driven by market dynamics, the global popularity of the sport, media rights, commercialisation, and the unique talent and brand value the players bring to their clubs.
