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The World's Highest-Paid Soccer Players 2024

A Saudi payday may be harder to come by these days, but the Kingdom still boasts four of the 10 top-earning footballers, including a record-setting Cristiano Ronaldo. ByJustin Birnbaum, Forbes Staff

A year after Saudi Pro League clubs shelled out roughly $1 billion on transfers—an unprecedented wave of spending for a nation hardly considered a soccer power—the market has cooled considerably. With oil prices languishing and the country engaged in a laundry list of megaprojects that have left its $925 billion (assets) sovereign wealth fund strapped for cash, the Saudis spent only $524 million on soccer acquisitions this summer, according to Transfermarkt. And the incoming players—with Moussa Diaby, Ivan Toney and Marcos Leonardo perhaps the most notable—aren't exactly household names.

For the superstars who paved the path to the Middle East, however, the Saudis' checks still clear. Four players from the Saudi Pro League now rank among the world's 10 highest-paid soccer players, counting both their on-field salaries this season and their annual earnings from endorsements, memorabilia and other business endeavors. England's star-studded Premier League claims only three spots while Spain's La Liga nabs two and Lionel Messi gives the U.S.'s Major League Soccer its lone representative.

Messi lands at No. 2 overall with an estimated $135 million before taxes and agent fees—including $75 million off the field, the best mark in the sport—but for the second consecutive year, he trails his rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who opened the Saudi floodgates when he joined Al Nassr in January 2023.

The Portuguese superstar, who leads the list for the sixth time in the last decade, is projected to earn $220 million on the field this season, a sum that is believed to include financial incentives from commercial agreements facilitated by his club on top of his playing wages. His $285 million total—including an estimated $65 million off the field—is a record in soccer, beating the $260 million he posted on the 2023 list. And among all of the athletes Forbes has tracked, dating to 1990, only boxer Floyd Mayweather has surpassed that figure in a single year while still active in his sport.

The Saudis' quieter 2024 has had ripple effects across the soccer world, however, in part because of UEFA's Financial Fair Play Regulations, which tie the amount a team can spend to the money it takes in. "In 2023, you had the Saudi Pro League, which was contributing to the Premier League in two ways: It was paying transfer fees, and it was taking off payroll players who were very expensive," explains Kieran Maguire, a soccer finance lecturer at the University of Liverpool. "Well, because Saudi is not spending money, the Premier League catches a cold on the receiving end."

Indeed, the Premier League's transfer spending fell to $2.5 billion this summer, from a record $3 billion last year, and Germany's Bundesliga and France's Ligue 1 also saw significant declines year-over-year. Real Madrid signing Kylian Mbappé (No. 5, $90 million) is the only member of the earnings top 10 who changed teams this off-season, and the lack of blockbuster moves has limited the financial growth for the rest of the sport's top earners. Combined, the world's 10 highest-paid soccer players are projected to earn $983 million this season, a record for the list but a modest 2% increase over last year.

A couple of new deals on the horizon could change that math, though. Erling Haaland, who comes in at No. 6 with $60 million and has scored 101 goals in 108 matches since arriving at Manchester City in 2022, is in the third season of a five-year deal and is already drawing interest from other top European clubs. An extension seems likely, although the future is less certain for his teammate Kevin De Bruyne (No. 10, $39 million), whose contract expires at the end of this season.

The uncertainty extends to Mohamed Salah, who could see his eight-year tenure at Liverpool come to an end next summer. Soccer's eighth-highest-paid player this season at an estimated $53 million, he has yet to extend his deal at Anfield, telling Sky Sports this was "his last year at the club." Saudi Arabia could be an option, considering Al Ittihad reportedly made a $197 million transfer offer for the Egyptian star in 2023.

"I just want to enjoy it," Salah told reporters in September. "I don't want to think about it—I feel I'm free to play football, and we'll see what happens next year."

THE WORLD'S 10 HIGHEST-PAID SOCCER PLAYERS 2024 #1. $285 million Age: 39Club: Al NassrNationality: PortugalOn-Field: $220 million • Off-Field: $65 million

Yasser Bakhsh/getty images

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. He needed only 90 minutes to cross the one million subscriber mark, shattering the platform's record. "UR Cristiano" has since grown its audience to nearly 65 million and accumulated more than 544 million views on just 59 videos. Ronaldo's more traditional partnerships include Nike, Herbalife and Whoop—in which he has an equity stake—not to mention CR-branded hotels, fragrances and underwear. All of those business endeavors will surely keep the 39-year-old busy whenever he decides to hang up his boots; Ronaldo's contract with Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr is set to conclude after this season.

#2. $135 million Age: 37Club: Inter MiamiNationality: ArgentinaOn-Field: $60 million • Off-Field: $75 million

Johnnie Izquierdo/getty images

Just a few months after leading Argentina to its 16th Copa América title, and the second of his career, Messi has Inter Miami in a position to claim its first championship. The South Florida-based franchise has accumulated an MLS-best 71 points with one regular-season match to play, putting it in pole position to take home the MLS Cup when the playoffs begin on October 23. Win or lose, it's likely not the last of Messi in Miami. He's under contract for 2025 and has an option for 2026, with Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas telling Forbes in April that he's "highly confident" his star striker will return. In the meantime, Messi boasts an impressive portfolio of partners off the field—including Adidas, Apple TV and Konami—and an Instagram account with more than 500 million followers. Last month, he also launched his own production company called 525 Rosario, named for his hometown in Argentina and the address of his family home.

#3. $110 million Age: 32Club: Al HilalNationality: BrazilOn-Field: $80 million • Off-Field: $30 million

Amin Mohammad Jamali/getty images

Neymar's tenure in Saudi Arabia has hardly gone as planned. The Brazilian superstar made only five appearances with Al Hilal before tearing his ACL last October. He has since returned to training with the club, but now the 32-year-old has to decide whether to remain in the Middle East. His contract with Al Hilal—reportedly featuring perks like access to a private jet, a fleet of luxury cars, a mansion for staff and the right to live with his girlfriend, which would otherwise be restricted by Islamic law—expires at the end of the 2024-25 season. Neymar's future as a pitchman, on the other hand, looks much more secure. He frequently plugs his sponsors to his 225 million Instagram followers, including both longtime partners like Puma and Blaze Casino and a newer addition, Saudi perfumer Ibrahim Al-Qurashi.

#4. $104 million Age: 36Club: Al IttihadNationality: FranceOn-Field: $100 million • Off-Field: $4 million

Yasser Bakhsh/getty images

With injuries limiting Benzema to 21 matches with Al Ittihad in his first season in Saudi Arabia, the former Ballon d'Or winner posted just nine goals, his lowest total since 2009-10. But the 36-year-old has returned to health and rediscovered his scoring prowess, netting seven goals in six matches this season while his team has collected five wins. Although Al Ittihad finished fifth in the Saudi Pro League last season, Benzema has high hopes for 2024-25, especially after the club added French manager Laurent Blanc. "He's someone, as I said, who knows soccer, someone who's very close to his players, someone who you can exchange ideas with," Benzema told Eurosport. "So that's good for us, and good for me as well."

#5. $90 million Age: 25Club: Real MadridNationality: FranceOn-Field: $70 million • Off-Field: $20 million

Mateo Villalba/getty images

After years of rumors, Mbappé has finally realized his childhood dream of joining Real Madrid. "I want to enjoy every second of this with my family because, for me, it is a day that I will remember for the rest of my life," he said at his introductory press conference in July, with almost 80,000 fans in attendance at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium to greet him. But the 25-year-old French star continues to battle his old club, Paris Saint-Germain, over roughly $60 million in unpaid wages in a salary dispute that is headed to court. His departure has been felt all across French soccer. Ligue 1, the nation's top tier, fell far short of the $1.1 billion in annual media rights fees it was aiming for while renegotiating its broadcast deals and will instead collect just over $700 million between domestic and international rights, according to French publication Le Monde.

#6. $60 million Age: 24Club: Manchester CityNationality: NorwayOn-Field: $46 million • Off-Field: $14 million

James Gill/Danehouse/getty images

Haaland has piled up major trophies in his two years at Manchester City, with two Premier League championships, an FA Cup and a Champions League title. International competition has been a different story. Norway hasn't qualified for the World Cup since 1998 or the European Championship since 2000. This week, the country was trounced by Austria, 5-1, in a UEFA Nations League game.

#7. $55 million Age: 24Club: Real MadridNationality: BrazilOn-Field: $40 million • Off-Field: $15 million

nurphoto/getty images

Vinicius, the only newcomer on this year's earnings list, has been with Real Madrid since he was 18, and in that time he has become an electric scorer, netting 85 goals in 273 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.

#8. $53 million Age: 32Club: LiverpoolNationality: EgyptOn-Field: $35 million • Off-Field: $18 million

Andrew Powell/getty images

Salah's star power extends from the Premier League to North Africa and the Middle East, making him a hot commodity for brands operating in that region. He has worked with Vodafone, Mountain View Egypt, Pepsi and Adidas, to name a few, and boasts an audience of nearly 100 million followers across Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

#9. $52 million Age: 32Club: Al NassrNationality: SenegalOn-Field: $48 million • Off-Field: $4 million

Al Nassr FC/getty images

For years, Mané has been using his multimillion-dollar salary to effect change in his native Senegal. In 2019, he revealed that he donates 70 euros per month to every resident of a "very poor region of Senegal." The 32-year-old has also funded a series of infrastructure projects, including the construction of a gas station and a post office, as well as the implementation of 4G mobile coverage.

#10. $39 million Age: 33Club: Manchester CityNationality: BelgiumOn-Field: $35 million • Off-Field: $4 million

Marc Atkins/getty images

De Bruyne reportedly turned down a lucrative offer to play in Saudi Arabia to avoid uprooting his family from Manchester. But the Kingdom could come calling again: Rumors are swirling that Cristiano Ronaldo is campaigning to bring the Belgian star to Al Nassr. Off the pitch, De Bruyne works with a half-dozen brands, including Nike and McDonald's.

METHODOLOGY

The 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. (For Lionel Messi, who plays on MLS's calendar-year schedule, the earnings figure reflects his 2024 compensation.)

Off-field estimates reflect annual cash from endorsements, licensing, appearances and memorabilia, as well as businesses operated by the players. With certain players, such as Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, club or league sponsors are believed to subsidize their contracts, and that value is accounted for in the on-field estimates.

The figures are derived from publicly available databases, including Capology.Com, and from conversations with industry insiders. Most asked to remain anonymous, but Forbes would like to acknowledge soccer correspondent Tancredi Palmeri, DODICI Sports Management's Mariano Trasande and Xeric Sports Management's Shea Richard Soma.

All figures are converted to U.S. Dollars using the current exchange rate. Forbes does not include investment income such as interest payments or dividends but does account for payouts from equity stakes athletes have sold. Forbes does not deduct taxes or agents' fees. Transfer fees are excluded.

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Women's Soccer Players Demand FIFA Drop Aramco Sponsorship

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Russian President ... [+] Vladimir Putin watch the ceremony prior to the Russia 2018 World Cup Group A football match between Russia and Saudi Arabia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on June 14, 2018. (Photo by Alexey DRUZHININ / SPUTNIK / AFP) (Photo credit should read ALEXEY DRUZHININ/AFP via Getty Images)

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More than 100 women's soccer players have demanded FIFA drop Saudi oil giant Aramco as a sponsor on humanitarian and environmental grounds. They called the partnership "a middle finger to women's soccer."

In an open letter addressed to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, the players stated the partnership "has set us so far back that it's hard to fully take in."

"The Saudi authorities trample not only on the rights of women, but on the freedom of all other citizens too," read the letter, signed by players from 24 countries. "Imagine LGBTQ+ players, many of whom are heroes of our sport, being expected to promote Saudi Aramco during the 2027 World Cup, the national oil company of a regime that criminalizes the relationships they are in and the values they stand for."

The letter also raised environmental concerns. Aramco is the largest oil producer in the world, and is 98.5 percent owned by Saudi Arabia. In April 2024, FIFA announced Aramco as its "Major Worldwide Partner" in an agreement that will run through to the end of 2027, which will see the state-owned oil giant sponsor the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as well as the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil.

The letter asks FIFA to replace Aramco "with alternative sponsors whose values align with gender equality, human rights and the safe future of our planet."

"We can't turn a blind eye to these harms," Danish player Sofie Pedersen told me. "We've asked FIFA three very simple questions: how can they justify the sponsorship given FIFA's human rights commitments, how can they justify the sponsorship given its climate commitments, and whether they will commit to setting up a sponsorship review panel with player representation."

A midfielder at Inter Milan with 88 caps for her national team, Pedersen was one of the architects behind the letter, alongside Tessel Middag from the Netherlands and Katie Rood from New Zealand. The captains of the Canadian, Italian, and Croatian national teams, as well as the former captains of both the U.S. And Afghanistan national teams, signed the letter that demands FIFA establish a review committee for players to have a voice.

"I don't want to promote a company that has a big responsibility for the climate crisis and still has no plans to phase out its oil production," said Pedersen. "And, it is owned by the Saudi authorities, who discriminate against women and violate human rights so brutally. We mention serious violations against women in the letter and could have mentioned a lot more. For example, the fact that there is still a male guardianship system in place in Saudi Arabia, where a woman is obliged to have a male guardian who can get her imprisoned for having acted 'disobediently.' This is not right."

Saudi Arabia has been heavily criticized for human rights violations, its treatment of women, and the criminalization of homosexuality, but in recent years, the Arab Kingdom has invested heavily in sports, prompting accusations of sportswashing. Aramco sponsors Formula One, golf's Ladies European Tour, and the International Cricket Council.

In a statement FIFA said: "FIFA values its partnership with Aramco and its many others commercial and rights partners. FIFA is an inclusive organisation with many commercial partners also supporting other organisations in football and other sports."

"Sponsorship revenues generated by FIFA are reinvested back into the game at all levels and investment in women's football continues to increase, including for the historic FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 and its groundbreaking new distribution model. As well as the increased support for teams at the tournament last year, FIFA's updated Women's Football Strategy for 2023-2027 further highlights how commercial revenues are reinvested back into the development of the women's game. FIFA's financial figures are also published annually."

The global governing body added that it established "seven standing committees for the women's game at all levels, including the Women's Players Committee" in May.

It's not the first time that controversy has surrounded Saudi sponsorship of FIFA. In January 2023, Visit Saudi was reported to become a partner of that year's Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. FIFA, however, faced considerable backlash over the proposed Visit Saudi deal, and at the FIFA congress in Kigali, Rwanda, last year, Infantino said: "I can clarify that there were discussions with Visit Saudi. At the end, this discussion didn't lead to a contract. How do you say it? It was a storm in a water glass. A storm in a teacup."

In December, FIFA is expected to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia. The Arab Kingdom is the sole bidder for the tournament after other eligible nations were given less than a month to express their interest. So far, not a single national soccer federation has protested against the controversial nature of the bidding process or Saudi Arabia's human rights record.

With their letter, the women's players want to hold FIFA accountable. Middag, who plies her trade for Rangers in Scotland, explained: "FIFA has a human rights policy and sustainability policy in place – it just needs to uphold them. The facts about Saudi Arabia – the women who are incarcerated, the criminalization of LGBTQ+ relationships, the polluting of the planet – are hard facts that cannot be washed away. Values are not just words on the page – FIFA needs to follow through on the values it says it holds."

She added: "It's simple – human rights for Saudi women and a safe planet for all of us are so much more vital than money for FIFA. There is no bigger benefit than rights and our planet."

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