Football, according to the Cambridge dictionary, is a game played between two teams of eleven people, where each team tries to win by kicking a ball into the other team's goal.
To some, however, football, or soccer, as it’s known in the USA, is more than just a game. It is life, a hobby, entertainment, and even a career to others.
If you are an adherent follower of the sport, when you think of a professional footballer, skills, money, a flashy lifestyle, cars, classy fashion, and other valuable things most likely come to mind.
Over the years, footballers, especially those playing in top leagues in the world, have displayed flashy lifestyles. This has been occasioned by the big bag that many of them take home weekly, monthly, or annually.
Despite playing the same sport, footballers however receive very varying salaries. According to Indeed.com, professionals in this field are paid based on skills, reputation, popularity, market and demand, position they play, contracts and negotiations, and the club's financial resources.
Forbes reports that the Saudi Pro League is where footballers are reaping big, with four of the footballers currently playing there being ranked among the top ten highest-paid players.
The English Premier League has three players in the top ten earners; Spain’s La Liga has two, with Argentina captain Lionel Messi representing the U.S.’s Major League Soccer in the list.
Today, Portugal star Christiano Ronaldo continues to lead the list of top-earning footballers for the sixth time in the last decade, with his main rival Lionel Messi falling second.
Ronaldo’s income is projected to be $220 million on the field this season, totalling about $285 million that he is getting off the field. This is an improvement of the $260 million total he posted on the Forbes 2023 list.
Below is the list of the top 10 highest-paid football players in 2024, according to Forbes:
1. Cristiano Ronaldo: Age: 39, Club: Al Nassr, National Team: Portugal
The Portugal national team captain moved to the Saudi Pro League in January 2023, with Al-Nassr offering him a big figure to play for them. The 39-year-old star is estimated to take home $220 million from on-field and off-field earnings of $65 million.
2. Lionel Messi: Age: 37, Club: Inter Miami, Nationality: Argentina
The former Barcelona star is currently playing for Inter Miami in the USA's Major League Soccer (MLS), where he is enjoying an annual on-field income of $60 million and $75 million off-field income.
3. Neymar Jr.: Age: 32, Club: Al Hilal, Nationality: Brazil
The Brazil star left French giants Paris Saint-Germain to join Al Hilal in August 2023. In Saudi. Listed as the third-top-earning footballer this year, he has an on-field income of $80 million and an off-field income of $30 million.
4. Karim Benzema: Age: 36, Club: Al Ittihad, Nationality: France
French star Karim Benzema is ranked fourth with an on-field income of $100 million and off-field: $4 million.
5. Kylian Mbappe: Age: 25, Club: Real Madrid, Nationality: France
Mbappe had his dream fulfilled when he joined his childhood club Real Madrid earlier this year. Not only did his dream come true, but his income rose to $70 million in on-field collection and $20 million off-field.
6. Erling Haaland: Age: 24, Club: Manchester City, Nationality: Norway
Top Man City striker Erling Haaland is ranked the sixth top-earning football player in the world and first in the EPL with an on-field income of $46 million and an off-field income of $14 million.
7. Vinicius Jr.: Age: 24, Club: Real Madrid, Nationality:
Brazil
The Real Madrid star is the second Brazilian in the list of highest-paid footballers with an estimated on-field income of $40 million and $15 million off-field income.
8. Mohamed Salah: Age: 32, Club: Liverpool, Nationality: Egypt
Mo Salah is not only the eighth highest-paid soccer player in the world, but he is the highest player in Africa. He has an on-field income of $35 million and an off-field income of $18 million.
9. Sadio Mane: Age: 32 | Club: Al Nassr | Nationality:
Senegal
The 32-year-old Senegal star is the second African on the list with an on-field income of $48 million and an off-field income of $4 million.
10. Kevin De Bryune: Age: 33, Club: Manchester City, Nationality: Belgium
Closing the list of the top ten highest-earners in the football world is the Manchester City captain, who has an estimated annual on-field income of $35 million and $4 million off-field income.
Forbes ranking of the world’s highest-paid soccer players includes on-field earnings estimates for the 2024-25 season, including base salaries, bonuses, and, in some cases, club-based image rights agreements.
Off-field values reflect annual cash from endorsements, licensing, appearances, tokens, as well as businesses operated by the players.