If you are a die-hard fan of football, you must have argued about the salary range of some of your favorite players at some point. While football players of prominent clubs are generally highly paid, one player still wears the crown as the highest-paid player in the world. In this article, we will talk about the football player with the highest salary in 2023 as well as other players who are highly paid.
Who is the Highest Paid Player in the World?
Cristiano Ronaldo is currently the highest-paid player in the world, earning a total of 200 million U.S. dollars per year. In 2022, he was signed into the Saudi Arabian club, Al-Nassr and has lived up to expectations in his new club. Ronaldo also owns a perfume and apparel business called CR7. Also, he has numerous side collaborations that earn him millions of dollars every year. This makes him the richest football player and one of the wealthiest sportsmen in the world.
Top 10 Highest Paid Players in the World
Now that we have established that Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest paid player in the world, let’s take a look at other players who also earn a lot of money. This list combines both the young and veteran football players who are currently highly paid:
1. Kylian Mbappe – $128 Million/ Year
Before Ronaldo’s departure to Al-Nassr, Kylian Mbappe was the highest-paid footballer with an estimated payment of $128 Million/ Year. The French footballer currently plays as a midfielder for PSG and is paid one million euros every week. He also makes millions of dollars from endorsements from different reputable brands.
2. Lionel Messi – $120 Million/ Year
Lionel Messi is arguably the best footballer in the world. Ever since he led his team to victory in the 2022 World Cup hosted in Qatar, it is impossible to deny Messi’s GOAT status. His salary became something worth envying after he joined PSG. The French club offered Messi an annual salary of $41 million. With other off-field side earnings, his total earning has been estimated to be about $120 million per year. This makes Messi one of the wealthiest sportsmen in the world.
3. Neymar Jr. – $68 Million/ Year
Next up on this list is Neymar Jr. who recently extended his contract with PSG up until 2025. The Brazillian superstar receives about $36.5 million every year for playing on the team. Also, he receives an extra $32 million as his off-field earnings and this places his total income at about $68 million per year. In the last decade, Neymar has consistently been among the best 10 footballers in the world, hence, his place on this list is well deserved.
4. Mohamed Salah – $53 million/ Year
Mohamed Salah, who currently plays for Liverpool earns a whopping $53 million every year. This makes him the highest-paid footballer in the history of his club. Nevertheless, this pay is well deserved after being one of the club’s key players. Salah also earns a lot of money on the side through endorsements and other business deals. He is one of the top athletes in Adidas and earns millions of dollars from marketing the company.
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5. Erling Haaland – $39 Million/ Year
The 22-year-old Manchester City star has total earnings of $39 million every year. Since Haaland was signed into the club, he has lived up to expectations and has scored numerous goals for his team. Besides earning a lot of money from playing for Man City, the Norwegian footballer also earns millions of dollars through partnerships with different reputable brands. Rumor has it that Haaland is about to sign another endorsement worth 18 million dollars.
6. Oscar – $34 Million/ Year
The whole world was in shock when Oscar chose to move to China in 2016 at the peak of his career. However, this transfer really did wonders for his earnings. Currently, Oscar plays for Shanghai Port F.C. and earns up to $34 million per year. This is far better than what he would have earned if he stayed with the Blues. Although we think that Oscar’s career would have had better prospects if he stayed with Chelsea, the money he makes in his current club will make up for the loss.
7. Eden Hazard – $31 Million/ Year
Although Hazard’s performance in the last few years has been disappointing, his earnings are far from disappointing. In his current team, Real Madrid, he earns a whopping $31 million every year. So his enormous earnings make up for his poor performance on the field. Also, the 32-year-old makes millions of dollars as his off-field wage.
8. Andres Iniesta – $30 Million/ Year
Although Iniesta is almost 40, he has continued to amaze the world with his superb football skills. Currently, he is the captain of the J1 League club, Vissel Kobe and earns $30 million every year. The 38-year-old has led his team to victory in the last few years so the huge pay he gets is well deserved. Since he joined this new club in 2018, he has won the Japanese Super Cup and the Emperor’s cup effortlessly.
9. Kelvin De Bruyne – $29 Million/ Year
Kelvin De Bruyne is currently one of the best players in the world and this status is reflected in his paycheck. The 31-year-old Belgian midfielder renewed his contract at Manchester City in 2021. So we expect to see him play there until 2025. Besides earning a lot from Manchester City, De Bruyne also receives millions of dollars from his side endorsements. Currently, he has endorsement deals with reputable brands such as Therabody, Wow Hydrate, and even Nike. These endorsements earn him at least $25 million per year.
10. David De Gea – $23 Million/ Year
David De Gea used to be the best keeper in the world, however, his performance in the last few years has not met up to expectations. Nevertheless, his pay is still estimated to be at a whopping $23 Million every year. The Spanish footballer currently plays as a goalkeeper for the reputable Premier League club, Manchester United, however, he has just one year remaining in his contract. The decision to extend his contract in this club or leave will largely depend on his manager.
Final Thoughts
Cristiano Ronaldo is currently the highest-paid player in the world and earns about $200 million every year. His new club, Al-Nassr put him at a better advantage to earn more than his counterparts. Closely followed are Mbappe and Lionel Messi who also earn over 100 million yearly from PSG.
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