Soccer means big business abroad, with Europe’s biggest leagues earning record-setting revenue numbers this past season.
MLS hopes to replicate Europe’s success someday, but it will take deep pockets to bring the best players to the States.
Cristiano Ronaldo towers above all others, earning $216.3 million as the highest-paid soccer player. He signed a deal with Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr that expires in 2025 when he’ll be 40.
The ageless forward led Al Nassr to a Saudi Pro League title in his second season there, tallying 35 goals as the league’s top goalscorer.
A former Real Madrid teammate of Ronaldo and a former rival earn $108.2 million each to tie for second.
Karim Benzema signed with Al-Ittihad in 2023 after spending 10 seasons with Real Madrid. The French center-forward has already earned half of what he made playing in Spain in just one season in Saudi Arabia.
Neymar signed a 1-year deal with Al Hilal after playing with PSG for six years and Real Madrid arch-rivals Barcelona for four years. He’s made $531 million over his 11-year career, second only to Ronaldo in career earnings.
Two goalkeepers make the list of the highest-paid soccer players.
Manuel Neuer is the world’s highest-paid goalkeeper, earning $22.7 million with Bayern Munich. He signed a 1-year extension last November that runs through the end of the Bundesliga season in 2025.
Jan Oblak earns $22.5 million, right below Neuer to tie for 23rd. The Atletico Madrid keeper has played in the Spanish capital since 2014 and signed a four-year deal worth $90.1 million in 2022.
Kalidou Koulibaly is the highest-paid defender, earning $37.5 million with Al Hilal. He’s the only defender among the highest-paid soccer players earning over $30 million a season.
The former Chelsea defender signed for Al Hilal in 2023, securing a 47% pay increase from his time with the London club.
Ranking The Highest-Paid Soccer Players in the World
Here is the list of the top 25 highest-paid soccer players in the world. The list was compiled with data from Capology.
- Updated: November 1st, 2024
| Rank | Player | Position | Team | Total Compensation |
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Forward | Al Nassr | $205.4 million |
| T-2 | Karim Benzema | Forward | Al-Ittihad | $102.7 million |
| T-2 | Neymar | Forward | Al Hilal | $102.7 million |
| 4 | Riyad Mahrez | Forward | Al-Ahli | $53.6 million |
| 5 | Sadio Mane | Forward | Al Nassr | $41.1 million |
| 6 | Kalidou Koulibaly | Defender | Al Hilal | $35.6 million |
| 7 | Robert Lewandowski | Forward | Barcelona | $34.2 million |
| 8 | Erling Haaland | Forward | Manchester City | $33.2 million |
| 9 | Kylian Mbappe | Forward | Real Madrid | $32.1 million |
| 10 | Ivan Toney | Forward | Al-Ahli | $26.2 million |
| T-11 | Sergei Milinkovic-Savic | Forward | Al Hilal | $25.7 million |
| T-11 | Alexsandar Mitrovic | Forward | Al Hilal | $25.7 million |
| T-11 | N’golo Kante | Midfielder | Al-Ittihad | $25.7 million |
| T-11 | Harry Kane | Forward | Bayern Munich | $25.7 million |
| 15 | Kevin De Bruyne | Forward | Manchester City | $25.3 million |
| 16 | Aymeric Laporte | Defender | Al Nassr | $25.2 million |
| 17 | Marcelo Brozovic | Midfielder | Al Nassr | $24.9 million |
| 18 | David Alaba | Defender | Real Madrid | $23.1 million |
| 19 | Dusan Vlahovic | Forward | Juventus | $22.8 million |
| T-20 | Casemiro | Midfielder | Manchester United | $22.1 million |
| T-20 | Mohamed Salah | Forward | Liverpool | $22.1 million |
| 22 | Manuel Neuer | Goalkeeper | Bayern Munich | $21.6 million |
| T-23 | Jan Oblak | Goalkeeper | Atletico Madrid | $21.4 million |
| T-23 | Vinicius Junior | Forward | Real Madrid | $21.4 million |
| T-23 | Jude Bellingham | Forward | Real Madrid | $21.4 million |
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