Money in football has always been a controversial subject. Do footballers get paid too much in relation to other occupations that are, arguably, more important in society? Of course, it’s not the footballers’ fault themselves. If they’re offered crazy wages, they’re not exactly going to turn it down and are entitled to attempt to earn as much money as possible during their relatively short careers.
But following the boom of the sport in Saudi Arabia, the wages we’re currently witnessing have truly spiralled out of control. It’s now almost inconceivable how much money footballers are actually earning. With that in mind, who are the 10 highest-paid players in world football right now?
It’s often hard to pinpoint exactly how much footballers are being paid because contracts come in all shapes and sizes and include various bonuses, revenue shares and clauses. But to give a more well-rounded account of just how lavishly the top footballers live in 2025, on-field and off-field income have been reviewed by Forbes – the amount they’re paid each year from their club in question, alongside sponsorships and brand deals have been analysed. Some figures may give you quite a shock. Strap in, grab your popcorn and, without further ado, let’s get stuck in.
10 Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
£32m per year
Since exploding onto the scene with Barcelona in 2023 as a 15-year-old, Yamal has helped Spain win the Euro 2024 tournament and last season returned Barcelona to the top of the table in La Liga. The club quickly rewarded him, signing the young winger in May to a contract that runs until 2031. Two months later, the Catalan club bequeathed its iconic No. 10 shirt – worn by greats such as Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi – to him.
Only 18 years old, it speaks volumes of just how good he is already that none of his achievements up until this point have a shock factor attached to them anymore – it’s just what he does. He is also starting to translate the momentum into opportunities off the pitch, recently adding Beats by Dre to a sponsor portfolio that already included Adidas, Konami and Powerade and trademarking his “304” celebration with the European Union Intellectual Property Office, with an eye on selling branded merchandise.
Lamine Yamal’s income breakdown
Per Hour
£3,652
Per Day
£87,671
Per Week
£592,500
Per Month
£2,660,000
Per year off-field
£7.5m
Per year on-field
£24.5m
Per Year (total)
£32m
9 Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
£32.7m per year
Raking in a cool £605,000 every seven days is Jude Bellingham. Arguably England’s most influential midfielder alongside Declan Rice, the 22-year-old has cemented his status as one of the world’s best since becoming the creative heartbeat of Real Madrid following his move from Borussia Dortmund two summers ago.
Although questions have been raised about his attitude – most notably when he was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s latest international squad – he remains a highly marketable figure, attracting numerous brand deals. Should he continue winning trophies and manage to iron out his temperament, his weekly earnings are only likely to rise even further, and the sky probably isn’t his limit.
He joined Liverpool in 2016 for a fee worth £34 million – and it proved to be an incredible piece of business for the club. Mane went on to become one of the best and most exciting attackers in world football, ending his Liverpool career with 120 goals in 269 appearances. He helped the club become the best in Europe, reaching three Champions League finals and winning one of them.
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In2022, he joined Bayern Munich, but the move didn’t exactly go to plan. Injuries and teammate disagreements plagued his career in Bavaria, and he was allowed to leave after just 12 months. Al-Nassr capitalised and announced the signing of Mane on a huge contract in 2023, one that sees him earn £40 million on a yearly basis alongside his bonuses.
Sadio Mane’s income breakdown
Per Hour
£4,566
Per Day
£109,589
Per Week
£740,700
Per Month
£3,300,000
Per year off-field
£3m
Per year on-field
£37m
Per Year (total)
£40m
7 Mo Salah (Liverpool)
£40.9m per year
Salah’s star power shines beyond the Premier League, reaching across North Africa and the Middle East, making him highly sought after by brands in the region. He has partnered with major companies like Vodafone, Mountain View Egypt, Pepsi, and Adidas, among others, and commands a massive following of nearly 100 million across Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).
The immensely talented right-winger has been a talismanic figure for the Reds in recent years, claiming a Champions League crown, Premier League title, FA Cup, two League Cups, FIFA Club World Cup, and UEFA Super Cup during his time at Anfield. Last season, he won his second Premier League title, becoming the first player to win that, alongside the Golden Boot, Playmaker Award, and PFA Player of the Year.
His salary reflects royalty, and rightly so for one of the greatest players in Liverpool’s illustrious history, after having signed a two-year extension at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.
Mo Salah’s income breakdown
Per Hour
£4,668
Per Day
£112,054
Per Week
£757,407
Per Month
£3,408,000
Per year off-field
£14.9m
Per year on-field
£26m
Per Year (total)
£40.9m
6 Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)
£44m per year
Vinicius Junior has been with Real Madrid since he was 18, and in that time he has become an electric scorer, netting 101 goals in 295 matches in all competitions with the club. He has also become an extremely marketable figure, immensely popular in Latin America. The Brazilian has 11 brand deals—including Sony’s PlayStation, Pepsi and Clear shampoo – supplementing an on-field contract he quietly signed in 2022 that ties him to Los Blancos until 2027.
This year, he is expected to help Xabi Alonso’s side see a noticeable resurgenace, and so, for that reason, it wouldn’t be any surprise that his yearly pay package of £42m continues to surge, leaving his rivals behind.
Vinicius Junior’s income breakdown
Per Hour
£5,022
Per Day
£120,547
Per Week
£846,153
Per Month
£3,666,666
Per year off-field
£12m
Per year on-field
£32m
Per Year (total)
£44m
5 Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
£59m per year
Erling Haaland has to go down as one of the best strikers in world football for one reason. He’s the best at putting the ball in the back of the opponent’s net. The Norwegian has set the world alight ever since he graced the Premier League with his presence. He smashed the goalscoring record for a single season, scoring 36 times in only 35 appearances during his debut campaign in the competition.
This frightening feat then carried over into the next season, and he continues to be a defender’s worst nightmare in 2025. For that reason alone, he’s fully deserving of his £59m annual take home. But while his off-field bursaries are still relatively small compared to other players, this is certainly bound to change for the Premier League’s highest earner.
Erling Haaland’s income breakdown
Per Hour
£6,735
Per Day
£161,164
Per Week
£1,092,444
Per Month
£4,916,000
Per year off-field
£14.89m
Per year on-field
£44.6m
Per Year (total)
£59m
4 Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
£70 million per year
Kylian Mbappe burst onto the scene at Monaco during the 2016/17 season as a youngster, scoring 26 goals as a teenager. It led to Paris Saint-Germain loaning the striker ahead of a permanent deal worth €145 million plus €35 million in add-ons.
Now plying his trade for the Champions League greats, Paris-born Mbappe is the Spanish top division’s second-highest earner on £505,000 a week. In turn, the talismanic Frenchman will earn a whopping £56m every year for the entirety of his five-year contract, while off-field riches boost that sum up to £70m every 12 months.
Kylian Mbappe’s income breakdown
Per Hour
£7,990
Per Day
£191,780
Per Week
£1,296,200
Per Month
£5,830,000
Per year off-field
£18m
Per year on-field
£52m
Per Year (total)
£70m
3 Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad)
£77 million per year
After 14 unbelievable seasons at Real Madrid where he scored 354 goals, Karim Benzema decided to call an end to his time at the Bernabeu for the increasingly growing riches of Saudi Arabia in the summer of 2023. Having endured playing in the shadows of Ronaldo in the Spanish top flight, it is, perhaps, much the same in the Middle East given that his former teammate has, too, made the switch to the Saudi Pro League.
Now at the age of 37, you can’t exactly blame the French striker for wanting a final payday before calling time on his illustrious career. And what a payday it is, picking up a fine £83 million annual payout at Al-Ittihad, which equates to a hefty £9,474 every hour of the day. He may not have settled very well at his new club, with supporters giving the centre forward a harsh nickname, but the crazy money he is on will certainly help to soften the blow, with him recently adding a new supercar to his garage as well – perhaps as a therapy purchase.
The 20 highest earners in the Saudi Pro League have been revealed, with one earning over £3m-a-week
2 Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
£96.7 million per year
Just a few months after leading Argentina to its 16th Copa America title – the second of his career – Lionel Messi helped Inter Miami secure its first-ever championship. The South Florida franchise accumulated an MLS-best 74 points but then suffered a shock loss in the first round of the MLS playoffs.
Regardless of that, Messi’s time in Miami has been a success so far. He’s since signed through 2025 with an option for 2026, and Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas expressed to Forbes in April that he’s “highly confident” Messi will return. Off the pitch, Messi has built an impressive portfolio of partnerships, including deals with Adidas, Apple TV, and Konami, and has more than 500 million Instagram followers. As the player most universally named the ‘Greatest of all Time’, he is fully deserving of his off-field riches.
Lionel Messi’s income breakdown
Per Hour
£11,038
Per Day
£264,931
Per Week
£1,790,740
Per Month
£8,058,000
Per year off-field
£52m
Per year on-field
£44.6m
Per year (total)
£96.7m
1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr)
£208 million per year
Cristiano Ronaldo is, quite easily, one of the greatest players to have ever played the game. The Portuguese talisman was the first high-profile star to make the move to Saudi Arabia before everyone else followed, so it’s fair to say that he is a trailblazer. After a failed second spell at Manchester United, Ronaldo made the untrodden move to Saudi Arabia and Al-Nassr.
Like other footballers, his basic wage is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of his total earnings, with his monthly take home much, much more thanks to an array of financial avenues. With a social media following in excess of 900 million across Instagram, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), Ronaldo is the most popular athlete on the planet, and his online presence recently got even bigger with the launch of a YouTube channel in August, helping him rake in just under £50m a year without kicking a ball. His net worth right now is estimated to be around £500 million, while he earns a mouth-watering £228m on a yearly basis.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s income breakdown
Per Hour
£23,074
Per Day
£569,863
Per Week
£3,851,000
Per Month
£17,330,000
Per year off-field
£37m
Per year on-field
£171m
Per year (total)
£208m
All wage figures per Forbes (correct as of 17/10/2025).
Manchester United will be eager to hit the ground running in 2026/26 after defying expectations with a third-place finish in the 2025/26 Premier League. The Red Devils were the best of the rest behind Arsenal and Manchester City last season, but it is clear from early cup exits that their squad requires a boost if they are to mount a serious challenge on any front in the upcoming campaign.
With Senne Lammens doing an impressive job between the posts, goalkeeper is no longer a problem area, but the midfield and defence could certainly do with some improvement, especially if Man Utd wish to concede fewer than the 50 goals they shipped in the league last term.
The likes of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko joined last season and shared the goal-scoring load, but a little more incision in the final third would go a long way towards making Michael Carrick’s side a truly dangerous prospect.
Ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, GIVEMESPORT brings you every new signing and departure from Old Trafford.
Manchester United are looking ahead to pre-season, with a tour planned for the summer camp.
Man Utd Departures 2026/27
Player
Nationality
New Club
Fee
Rasmus Hojlund
Denmark
Napoli
£43 million
Casemiro
Brazil
Released
N/A
Tyrell Malacia
Netherlands
Released
N/A
The first official departure from Manchester United in the summer of 2026 was Rasmus Hojlund, who joins Napoli on a permanent deal. The Denmark international had been on loan with the Partenopei and their qualification for the Champions League triggered the completion of a full transfer worth £43 million.
The 2026 Formula One season rolls into the ‘jewel in the crown’ this weekend at Monaco, for the first European race of the season. The legendary Monaco circuit brings a huge challenge for the drivers with 78 laps of racing on a tight and twisty circuit with the barriers never being far away.
The Monaco circuit consists of 19 corners with minimal overtaking opportunities, with only short straights and no straight mode zones, meaning drivers will not get additional power to assist with overtakes. The circuit could be well suited to the Ferrari car, which has looked good in slow speed sections so far. They aim to stop Mercedes‘ 100% winning record in proper races this season.
Kimi Antonelli comes into the race with a big 43-point lead over teammate George Russell after securing his fourth win in succession at the Canadian Grand Prix, but where will he finish this weekend?
We have asked the Supercomputer to predict who it thinks will come out on top.
Monaco GP predicted by Supercomputer (22-11)
Position
Driver
Team
22.
Lance Stroll
Aston Martin
21.
Valtteri Bottas
Cadillac
20.
Fernando Alonso
Aston Martin
19.
Sergio Perez
Cadillac
18.
Nico Hulkenberg
Audi
17.
Arvid Lindblad
Racing Bulls
16.
Gabriel Bortoleto
Audi
15.
Esteban Ocon
Haas
14.
Alex Albon
Williams
13.
Carlos Sainz
Williams
12.
Liam Lawson
Racing Bulls
11.
Isack Hadjar
Red Bull
10 Franco Colapinto
Alpine
Alpine have had a strong start to the season which they will be looking to build upon. Argentine Colapinto picked up a sixth-place finish in Canada last time out and the Supercomputer predicts him to get another points finish this weekend in Monaco.
9 Oliver Bearman
Haas
Bearman has been one of the standout drivers this season so far, sitting in ninth position in the Drivers’ Championship with 18 points. He is predicted to get his tally up to 20 points, picking up a couple more this weekend for the Haas team.
8 Max Verstappen
Red Bull
Four-time champion Max Verstappen comes into the Monaco Grand Prix on a high off the back of his first podium of the season in Canada. It is predicted, however, that Red Bull will have a difficult weekend, with their car struggling with issues on bumpy tracks, something which the Monaco circuit is, which will dent any chance the Dutchman has of recreating his Canada exploits.
Frenchman Pierre Gasly is another driver who has enjoyed a strong start to the 2026 season. He has been a consistent point scorer so far and this is not likely to change, according to the Supercomputer’s predictions.
6 Oscar Piastri
McLaren
McLaren will have to shake off the disappointments from Canada, where a strategy error, which put them on intermediate tyres instead of slicks at the start, derailed their weekend completely. Piastri later had contact with Albon in the race before trundling to an 11th-place finish. The Supercomputer believes the Australian will, however, bounce back with a solid sixth-place finish and put some good points on the board.
5 Lando Norris
McLaren
Next comes Piastri’s teammate Lando Norris. Also suffering from the strategy blunder, his race came to an end on lap 38 due to a gearbox issue. The current champion won last year in Monaco, but has a far inferior car compared to the last visit to the principality. The Supercomputer predicts the Brit to come home in fifth place this Sunday.
4 George Russell
Mercedes
Following the perfect start in Australia in the season opener, Russell’s season has since gone a bit off script. The Brit has been outshone by teenage teammate Kimi Antonelli and suffered a mechanical failure while leading in Canada last time out, seeing him plummet to 43 points behind the Italian in the championship. The Supercomputer predicts Russell will finish P4 this weekend, further losing ground in the championship battle.
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3 Lewis Hamilton
Ferrari
Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton will come into Monaco full of confidence following a second-place finish in Canada. With a strong Ferrari car behind him, he will be in the fight for victory this weekend. He is a three-time winner at this venue and will look to use his experience to propel himself further up the order. The Supercomputer believes he will fall just short of the victory and will come home in third.
2 Kimi Antonelli
Mercedes
The 19-year-old Italian wonderkid has set the F1 season alight so far, winning four of the opening five races. He is full of confidence, with both himself and his car firing on all cylinders. The Italian has a great chance of victory this weekend and making it five on the bounce. Despite this, the Supercomputer predicts he will narrowly miss out on victory, but will still extend his lead in the championship by another six points.
1 Charles Leclerc
Ferrari
Hometown hero Charles Leclerc comes into the weekend trying to recreate the heroics from his emotional victory here in 2024. Having grown up in the streets of Monaco, there is nobody on the grid who knows the track like the 28-year-old. This, and a circuit that suits the Ferrari car, will combine the perfect mix to set Leclerc on his way to victory, giving us a non-Mercedes race winner for the first time this season. Not a bad way to celebrate a new contract, either.
Celtic are pushing to secure a new manager, and an update from Sky Sports has now emerged on their pursuit of Robbie Keane.
Martin O’Neill was brought to the club during the 2025/2026 campaign, but the experienced manager only signed a deal until the summer.
The Glasgow giants are now in the market to find a replacement, despite O’Neill winning the Scottish Premiership title.
Although Celtic lifted the title during the 2025/2026 season, some of their performances were still a concern, so it’s no surprise to see them pursuing other options.
The Bhoys now need a strong summer transfer window under a new manager, if they want to win the league without having to wait until the final day.
According to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph, Celtic have held constructive talks with Keane about taking over as manager.
Further discussions have now been scheduled as Celtic weigh up bringing their former striker to the club.
Sky Sports also shared the ‘breaking news’ live on air, with Celtic pushing to secure Keane as their manager.
It looks as though Keane could be their man, although Dermot Desmond does want to understand if O’Neill would be interested in taking the job on a permanent basis.
