Highest Paid Soccer Players in 2025

The global football financial scene has shifted massively in recent seasons. Some stars remain in Europe with lucrative deals; others have headed to the Saudi Pro League (SPL) or Major League Soccer (MLS) to secure contracts that dwarf traditional wage structures. According to industry sources, the top 10 alone will earn nearly $1 billion combined this year—an unprecedented figure that shows how radically the landscape has changed. Below is a countdown of the 20 highest paid soccer players in 2025, covering club details, salary breakdowns, off-field endorsements, and the larger trends driving their enormous earnings.

20. Marcelo Brozović – $25 Million Total

Marcelo Brozović, age 30, is a Croatian midfielder starring for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. Formerly a key piece at Inter Milan, he joined the SPL in 2023, enjoying a massive salary boost late in his career.

• On-Field Earnings: $24.9 million (base salary at Al Nassr)
• Off-Field Earnings: <$1 million (minor Nike deal, limited endorsements)

19. Casemiro – $24–$25 Million Total

Casemiro, age 31, is a Brazilian defensive midfielder for Manchester United in the English Premier League. A five-time Champions League winner at Real Madrid, he moved to Old Trafford in 2022 and remains a cornerstone for club and country.

• On-Field Earnings: $22.1 million (Man United salary and bonuses)
• Off-Field Earnings: $2–$3 million (Nike boot sponsorship, moderate brand deals)

18. Aymeric Laporte – $26 Million Total

Aymeric Laporte, 29, is a Spanish center-back now at Al Nassr, having left Manchester City in 2023. He previously helped City to multiple Premier League titles and is one of the world’s highest-paid defenders in Saudi Arabia.

• On-Field Earnings: $25.2 million (guaranteed salary at Al Nassr)
• Off-Field Earnings: <$1 million (basic boot deal, minimal endorsements)

17. Aleksandar Mitrović – $27 Million Total

Aleksandar Mitrović, age 28, is a Serbian striker playing for Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia. Formerly Fulham’s star forward, he’s known for his prolific scoring and now earns a top-tier wage in the SPL.

• On-Field Earnings: $25.7 million (huge salary at Al Hilal)
• Off-Field Earnings: ~$1 million (Nike, occasional local deals)

16. Sergej Milinković-Savić – $26 Million Total

Sergej Milinković-Savić, 28, is a Serbian midfielder for Al Hilal. After excelling at Lazio in Serie A, he moved to Saudi Arabia for one of the largest midfield contracts worldwide.

• On-Field Earnings: $25.7 million (massive base pay from Al Hilal)
• Off-Field Earnings: <$1 million (Nike boots, small ads)

15. N’Golo Kanté – $26–$27 Million Total

N’Golo Kanté, 31, is a French defensive midfielder at Al Ittihad. Once a World Cup and Champions League winner with Chelsea, he took a blockbuster Saudi deal despite recent injury setbacks.

• On-Field Earnings: $25.7 million (guaranteed pay at Al Ittihad)
• Off-Field Earnings: <$2 million (Nike boots, modest endorsements)

14. Harry Kane – $30–$32 Million Total

Harry Kane, 30, is an English striker for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. He departed Tottenham Hotspur in 2023, becoming Bayern’s star forward and recently signed a landmark lifetime boot deal with Skechers.

• On-Field Earnings: ~$25.7 million (Bayern salary + performance bonuses)
• Off-Field Earnings: ~$5 million (Skechers boot contract, various UK brand partnerships)

13. Kalidou Koulibaly – $36–$37 Million Total

Kalidou Koulibaly, 32, is a Senegalese center-back at Al Hilal. Formerly at Napoli and Chelsea, he joined the SPL in 2023 to become the world’s highest-paid defender.

• On-Field Earnings: $35.6 million (enormous Al Hilal wage)
• Off-Field Earnings: <$2 million (Adidas boots, minor deals in Senegal)

12. Robert Lewandowski – $42–$44 Million Total

Robert Lewandowski, 36, is a Polish striker for FC Barcelona. A prolific scorer and multiple-time FIFA Best Men’s Player, he remains Europe’s top forward despite taking a slight pay cut to join Barça in 2022.

• On-Field Earnings: ~$34 million (Barça salary, bonuses)
• Off-Field Earnings: $8–$10 million (Nike, personal RL9 brand, Polish sponsorships)

11. Riyad Mahrez – $55 Million Total

Riyad Mahrez, 32, is an Algerian winger at Al-Ahli. A key part of Manchester City’s 2023 treble, he moved to Saudi in the summer of 2023 for a staggering wage hike, making him one of the SPL’s marquee wide players.

• On-Field Earnings: $53.6 million (Al-Ahli salary)
• Off-Field Earnings: ~$2 million (Nike, some Pepsi campaigns)

10. Kevin De Bruyne – $39 Million Total

Kevin De Bruyne, 32, is a Belgian midfielder for Manchester City. Frequently lauded as the EPL’s best playmaker, he negotiated his own lucrative extension and remains City’s top earner.

• On-Field Earnings: $35 million (Man City wage + trophy bonuses)
• Off-Field Earnings: $4 million (Puma boot deal, limited individual marketing)

9. Sadio Mané – $52 Million Total

Sadio Mané, 31, is a Senegalese forward now at Al Nassr. After spells at Liverpool and Bayern, his Saudi move quadrupled his earnings, pairing him with Cristiano Ronaldo to form a star-laden attack.

• On-Field Earnings: $48 million (Al Nassr contract)
• Off-Field Earnings: $4 million (Puma or NB prior, minimal brand portfolio)

8. Mohamed Salah – $53 Million Total

Mohamed Salah, 31, is an Egyptian forward at Liverpool and one of Africa’s most iconic footballers. Known for prolific EPL scoring, he also has an extensive global sponsorship profile.

• On-Field Earnings: $35 million (Liverpool deal)
• Off-Field Earnings: $18 million (Adidas, Pepsi, Vodafone, Gucci)

7. Vinícius Júnior – $55 Million Total

Vinícius Júnior, 23, is a Brazilian winger for Real Madrid, hailed as the club’s new attacking superstar. He’s become one of La Liga’s top talents and a rising marketing force, especially amid anti-racism advocacy.

• On-Field Earnings: $40 million (Real’s major salary + image rights)
• Off-Field Earnings: $15 million (brand deals, likely a big boot switch soon)

6. Erling Haaland – $60 Million Total

Erling Haaland, 24, is a Norwegian striker for Manchester City, smashing goal records at an astonishing pace. His physical prowess and youth make him one of the most in-demand athletes globally.

• On-Field Earnings: $46 million (City salary, bonuses from trophy wins)
• Off-Field Earnings: $14 million (Nike, Hyperice investment, EA Sports)

5. Kylian Mbappé – $90 Million Total

Kylian Mbappé is a French forward widely considered the next dominant star post-Messi/Ronaldo. A World Cup winner at 19, he’s now a flagship player for both club and country, dictating contract terms that include huge signing bonuses.

• On-Field Earnings: $70 million (Real’s salary + prorated signing bonus)
• Off-Field Earnings: $20 million (Nike, Dior, Hublot, Oakley)

4. Karim Benzema – $104 Million Total

Karim Benzema, 35, is a French-Algerian striker and 2022 Ballon d’Or winner now at Al Ittihad. He left Real Madrid in 2023 for a mega-deal that doubled his prior earnings.

• On-Field Earnings: $100 million (Al Ittihad salary)
• Off-Field Earnings: $4 million (Adidas, minimal personal brands)

3. Neymar Jr. – $110 Million Total

Neymar, 31, is a Brazilian superstar playing at Al Hilal. With flamboyant flair and immense popularity, he previously thrived at Barcelona and PSG before securing one of soccer’s biggest paydays in Saudi.

• On-Field Earnings: $80 million (base salary + lavish perks)
• Off-Field Earnings: $30 million (Puma, Red Bull, Gillette)

2. Lionel Messi – $135 Million Total

Lionel Messi, 37, is an Argentine legend at Inter Miami in MLS, fresh off a triumphant World Cup victory. He remains a global sports icon, forging new ground with revenue-sharing deals in the U.S.

• On-Field Earnings: $60 million (MLS salary + Apple/Adidas revenue share)
• Off-Field Earnings: $75 million (Adidas, Pepsi, Budweiser, Apple collaborations)

1. Cristiano Ronaldo – $285 Million Total

Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, is a Portuguese legend at Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. A five-time Ballon d’Or winner, he tops this list with an unprecedented contract that dwarfs all previous records.

• On-Field Earnings: $220 million (base Al Nassr wage + club-linked deals)
• Off-Field Earnings: $65 million (Nike lifetime contract, CR7 brand empire, Herbalife)

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