The 11 highest-paid players, ranked by salary
The figures below are Sportico’s on-field earnings estimates for the 2025-26 season.
| Player (Country) | Club | On-field salary |
|---|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) | Al-Nassr | $230m |
| Lionel Messi (Argentina) | Inter Miami | $70m |
| Kylian Mbappé (France) | Real Madrid | $70m |
| Erling Haaland (Norway) | Manchester City | $60m |
| Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) | Al-Ahli | $52m |
| Sadio Mané (Senegal) | Al-Nassr | $50m |
| Vinícius Jr. (Brazil) | Real Madrid | $40m |
| Mohamed Salah (Egypt) | Liverpool | $35m |
| Lamine Yamal (Spain) | Barcelona | $33m |
| Harry Kane (England) | Bayern Munich | $30m |
| Jude Bellingham (England) | Real Madrid | $29m |
Messi and Mbappé tie for second on salary at $70 million each, despite very different setups.
Messi’s package at Miami includes performance and revenue arrangements, while Mbappé’s is a straight Real Madrid contract.
Mané ($50m) and Mahrez ($52m) out-earn Vinícius Jr. and Salah on salary, almost entirely because of Saudi Pro League contracts.
Where the big salaries come from
The Saudi Pro League now pays the highest playing wages in the game.
Ronaldo, Mané and Mahrez all draw their salaries there, and it is why they rank so high on pay despite lower off-field income.
In Europe, the top base wages sit with two players. Capology estimates Erling Haaland’s base salary at around £525,000 per week at Manchester City.
Mbappé is the highest-paid player in Spain. Capology puts his gross fixed salary at roughly €31 million a year, just over €600,000 a week.
A few useful contrasts on how clubs and leagues pay:
- Saudi Pro League: Highest gross salaries in football right now — Ronaldo, Mané, Mahrez.
- European giants: High base wages plus heavy bonuses — Mbappé, Haaland, Vinícius Jr., Bellingham, Kane.
- MLS: Messi’s deal mixes salary with league and commercial upside rather than a Saudi-scale base.
- Rising stars: At 18, Lamine Yamal already earns $33m on the field for Barcelona.
Remember these are estimates.
Clubs do not publish salaries, so figures from Sportico and Capology are well-sourced approximations rather than official numbers.
Salaries vs net worth
This article is about salaries: what players are actually paid to play, including base wages, bonuses and club image rights. It is not a net-worth or career-earnings ranking.
That distinction matters.
A player’s net worth bundles in decades of endorsements, businesses and investments, while salary is the money a club pays for this season’s football.
The Richest Players at the 2026 World Cup: Net Worth Ranking
Where to watch them at the 2026 World Cup
The tournament is spread across 16 host cities in three countries, so the star you want to see decides where you fly. Matches run through July, with the final at MetLife Stadium near New York/New Jersey on 19 July.
The main US gateways for fans are Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta and Houston.
In Canada the action is in Toronto and Vancouver, while Mexico hosts games in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.
Watch them at home with our complete schedule to World Cup 2026 matches:
FIFA World Cup 2026 Time Table & Schedule: Kick-Off Times (Downloadable PDF)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the highest-paid player at the 2026 World Cup?
Cristiano Ronaldo, with an estimated $230 million in on-field pay over the past year. His Al-Nassr contract in Saudi Arabia is the main driver.
Is salary the same as net worth?
No. Salary is what a club pays a player to play this season, while net worth adds up a lifetime of earnings, endorsements and investments. This article ranks salaries only.
Why do Saudi-based players rank so high on salary?
The Saudi Pro League currently pays the largest gross wages in football. That lifts Ronaldo, Sadio Mané and Riyad Mahrez above several bigger global names on pay.
Where is the 2026 World Cup final?
At MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, near New York City, on 19 July 2026. The tournament began on 11 June.
Sources
- Sportico — The Highest-Paid Players at the 2026 World Cup
- Capology — Top Players by Salary (2025/26)
- Capology — Manchester City 2025/26 Salaries and Contracts
- Capology — Real Madrid 2025/26 Salaries and Contracts
- FIFA — Qualified Teams for the 2026 World Cup
- FIFA — 2026 World Cup Final Draw Results
- UEFA — Portugal at the World Cup 2026: Squad, Fixtures, Group and History
- MetLife Stadium — FIFA World Cup 2026 Final
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