This year, this list is again headed by Cristiano Ronaldo thanks to his move to Al Nasr with double the income of Lionel Messi, his arch-rival in sports and also in financial terms.

The Portuguese star pocketed a total of 260 million dollars, of which 200 million came from “on the field” performance and 60 million “off the field”. This huge figure is due to the lucrative contract he negotiated in the Middle East, which includes not only basic salary and bonuses but also financial incentives linked to the commercial deals the club facilitate. Although the Saudi Arabian team owns a portion of the image rights, CR7 continues to maintain a highly lucrative sponsorship portfolio with brands such as Nike and Jacob & Co.

Messi is in second place with a projected total income of $135 million, divided by 65 million “on the field” and 70 million “off the field.” Messi’s contract with Inter Miami includes not only direct financial benefits, but also revenue sharing from league partners such as Adidas and Apple TV, as well as the option to buy shares in the club after he retires. turmeric. This deal makes Messi the first MLS player to appear in the top 10 since David Beckham in 2012.

In third place is Neymar Jr., who, after signing a contract with Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia, received $112 million, of which 80 million was due to his achievements on the field and 32 million was earned from activities. outside. This transfer continues to strengthen the “Saudi effect” that is dominating the list with 3 of the first 5 positions belonging to the Saudi Pro League. However, the Brazilian’s injury forced the club to sign another foreign player while he recovered.

Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema also feature prominently in the list, taking fourth and fifth place respectively, with their earnings reflecting not only their on-field talent but also the commercial appeal they possess.

Top 10 players with the highest salaries in the world

1- Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr – Saudi Arabia): 260 million USD

2- Lionel Messi (Inter Miami – USA): 135 million USD

3- Neymar Jr. (Al Hilal – Saudi Arabia): 112 million USD

4- Kylian Mbappé (PSG – France): 110 million USD

5- Karim Benzema (Al Ittihad – Saudi Arabia): 106 million USD

6- Erling Haaland (Manchester City – England): 58 million USD

7- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool – England): 53 million USD

8- Sadio Mané (Al Nassr – Saudi Arabia): 52 million USD

9- Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City – England): 39 million USD

10- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich – Germany): 36 million