Record revenue numbers for soccer’s top-performing clubs speak volumes to their continued global dominance. Goals draw in big crowds, and forwards are paid to score them.
The highest-paid soccer forwards also rank among the highest-paid athletes in the world.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest-paid soccer forward of 2025 by a long shot.
Ronaldo rakes in an astounding $228 million annually for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia’s Pro League. As one of the most recognizable faces in sports, Ronaldo earns another $60 million off the pitch in endorsements.
No other player on the list comes within $100 million of what Ronaldo brings in each year.
Second is Karim Benzema, who has a $114 million salary. Benzema plays for Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia’s Pro League. He has won the Champions League with Real Madrid five times and has been named French Player of the Year four times.
In third is Riyad Mahrez bringing in $59.5 million. Mahrez left Manchester City in 2023 for his biggest payday yet in the Saudi Pro League.
Coming in fourth is another Saudi forward, Sadio Mane, earning $45.6 million. Mane signed a two-year, $84.2 million contract in 2023 with Al Nassr.
Rounding out the top five is Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski, who earns $38 million. Lewandowski joined the Catalonian giants in 2022, signing an extension worth $76 million.
Arabian clubs dominate the highest-paid forwards list. Four of the five highest-paid forwards play in the Saudi Pro League, and nine overall play in the list.
Ranking The Highest-Paid Soccer Forwards
Here is the entire list of the highest-paid soccer forwards of 2025. The list was compiled with data from Capology.
- Updated: April 30, 2025
| Rank | Player | Team | Total Compensation |
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Al Nassr | $228 million |
| 2 | Karim Benzema | Al-Ittihad | $114 million |
| 3 | Riyad Mahrez | Al-Ahli | $59.5 million |
| 4 | Sadio Mane | Al Nassr | $45.6 million |
| 5 | Robert Lewandowski | Barcelona | $38 million |
| 6 | Erling Haaland | Manchester City | $36.6 million |
| 7 | Kylian Mbappe | Real Madrid | $35.6 million |
| 8 | Ivan Toney | Al-Ahli | $29.1 million |
| T-9 | Harry Kane | Bayern Munich | $28.5 million |
| T-9 | Aleksandar Mitrovic | Al-Hilal | $28.5 million |
| T-11 | Kevin De Bruyne | Manchester City | $27.9 million |
| T-11 | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | $27.9 million |
| T-13 | Jude Bellingham | Real Madrid | $23.7 million |
| T-13 | Vinicius Junior | Real Madrid | $23.7 million |
| 15 | Jhon Durán | Al Nassr | $23.3 million |
| 16 | Dušan Vlahović | Juventus | $22.2 million |
| 17 | Roberto Firmino | Al-Ahli | $21.7 million |
| T-18 | Serge Gnabry | Bayern Munich | $21.5 million |
| T-18 | Jamal Musiala | Bayern Munich | $21.5 million |
| T-20 | Jack Grealish | Manchester City | $20.9 million |
| T-20 | Bernardo Silva | Manchester City | $20.9 million |
| T-20 | Bruno Fernandes | Manchester United | $20.9 million |
| 23 | Omar Marmoush | Manchester City | $20.6 million |
| T-24 | Malcom | Al-Hilal | $20.5 million |
| T-24 | Ousmane Dembélé | PSG | $20.5 million |
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