Highest-Paid Footballers in the World 2026: Top 10 Ranked

As of October 2026, Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest-paid footballer in the world, earning an estimated $300 million over 12 months according to Forbes’ 2026 figures. Lionel Messi ($140 million) and Karim Benzema ($104 million) are second and third, with Kylian Mbappé fourth at $95 million.

The list has changed a lot since 2021. Saudi Pro League clubs now pay three of the top 10, Neymar has dropped out after his return to Santos, and younger players such as Lamine Yamal and Jude Bellingham have moved in.

Figures are Forbes estimates of earnings before taxes and agent fees, combining salary, bonuses and income from sponsors. They are not net worth figures.

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Highest-paid footballers in 2026 at a glance

1. Cristiano Ronaldo: $300 million

Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest-paid footballer in the world and the highest-paid athlete in any sport, according to Forbes’ May 2026 list. He earned an estimated $300 million in 12 months: $235 million from Al Nassr in salary and bonuses, and $65 million from sponsorships.

He signed a contract extension with Al Nassr in June 2025 that runs to 2027. His off-field partners have included Nike, and he also runs the CR7 brand of hotels, fragrances and clothing.

Forbes valued Ronaldo’s net worth at about $1.2 billion in 2026, making him the first footballer to become a billionaire. Read more in our profile of {il(“cristiano-ronaldo-net-worth”, “Cristiano Ronaldo’s net worth”)}.

2. Lionel Messi: $140 million

Lionel Messi earned an estimated $140 million, split about evenly between $70 million on the field and $70 million off it. He has played for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer since 2023.

His MLS deal includes revenue sharing with Apple and Adidas, and his long list of sponsors includes Adidas and Apple’s MLS Season Pass. He also has his own clothing line and business interests.

3. Karim Benzema: $104 million

Karim Benzema ranks third, with Forbes estimating his earnings at $104 million. Almost all of it comes from his playing contract in Saudi Arabia, where he moved from Real Madrid to Al Ittihad in 2023.

Unlike Ronaldo and Messi, Benzema earns very little from endorsements, about $4 million a year in Forbes’ October 2025 breakdown.

4. Kylian Mbappé: $95 million

Kylian Mbappé is the highest-paid player in Europe. He joined Real Madrid on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024.

Forbes’ October 2025 breakdown put his split at $70 million from his club and $25 million from sponsors, including Nike and Oakley.

5. Erling Haaland: $80 million

Erling Haaland signed a contract with Manchester City in January 2025 that runs until 2034, one of the longest in football history.

Forbes estimated $60 million of his earnings came from salary and bonuses and $20 million from sponsors such as Nike and Breitling.

6. Vinícius Júnior: $60 million

Vinícius Júnior has been one of Real Madrid’s key players since 2018 and helped the club win the Champions League in 2022 and 2024.

Forbes put his earnings at $60 million, with $40 million from Real Madrid and $20 million off the field.

7. Mohamed Salah: $55 million

Mohamed Salah signed a new two year contract with Liverpool in April 2025 and then helped the club win the 2024 to 25 Premier League title.

He earned an estimated $55 million: $35 million from Liverpool and $20 million from sponsors.

8. Sadio Mané: $54 million

Sadio Mané plays alongside Ronaldo at Al Nassr. His $54 million in earnings is almost all from his club, with about $4 million from endorsements.

9. Jude Bellingham: $44 million

Jude Bellingham joined Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund in 2023. Forbes estimated $29 million from his salary and $15 million from sponsors, including Adidas.

10. Lamine Yamal: $43 million

Lamine Yamal is the youngest player on the list. He signed a contract extension with Barcelona in 2025 that runs to 2031. Forbes estimated $33 million from his club and $10 million from sponsors such as Adidas.

How we ranked these

We used Forbes’ 2026 earnings figures, published in May and June 2026, for the 12 months before each list. Where Forbes did not publish a new on-field and off-field split, we used its October 2025 breakdown, when totals for those players were the same. Forbes is expected to publish its next annual football list later in 2026.

Salary makes up most of the earnings for players in Saudi Arabia, where clubs backed by the Public Investment Fund have offered some of the largest contracts in football since 2023. Players at European clubs tend to earn a bigger share from sponsors. Messi is the only player in the top 10 whose off-field income matches his playing income, a sign of how valuable his name remains to brands.

For other sports, see our list of the richest rugby players.

Sources: Forbes, highest-paid players at the 2026 World Cup, Forbes Australia, highest-paid soccer players 2025, Bleacher Report, Forbes highest-paid athletes 2026.