Who is the highest paid footballer? Christiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and others; Check full list here
Cristiano Ronaldo Leads
In 2023, Ronaldo is poised to earn an astounding $260 million, leaving his closest competitor far behind. A substantial portion of his earnings, precisely $200 million, stems from his club, Al Nassr. However, Ronaldo's value to his team transcends the pitch, as the Saudi-based club capitalizes on his immense popularity to secure sponsorship deals and grow its brand.
Lionel Messi in Second Place
Lionel Messi, the legendary Argentine forward, follows Ronaldo closely in the ranking. Leading Inter Miami as their captain, Messi is estimated to earn $135 million this year. While $65 million comes from his on-field performance, a substantial $70 million originates from various sponsorship and endorsement deals that have kept Messi among the highest-paid athletes in the world.
The Top 11 Highest-Earning Soccer Players in 2023
Here's a breakdown of the top 11 highest-paid soccer players for 2023 according to Forbes:
Cristiano Ronaldo: Age 38, Club Al Nassr
Total Income: $260 million
On-field Earnings: $200 million
Off-field Earnings: $60 million
Lionel Messi: Age 36, Club Inter Miami
Total Income: $135 million
On-field Earnings: $65 million
Off-field Earnings: $70 million
Neymar: Age 31, Club Al-Hilal
Total Income: $112 million
On-field Earnings: $80 million
Off-field Earnings: $32 million
Kylian Mbappe: Age 24, Club PSG
Total Income: $110 million
On-field Earnings: $90 million
Off-field Earnings: $20 million
Karim Benzema: Age 35, Club Al-Ittihad
Total Income: $106 million
On-field Earnings: $100 million
Off-field Earnings: $6 million
Erling Haaland: Age 23, Club Man City
Total Income: $58 million
On-field Earnings: $46 million
Off-field Earnings: $12 million
Mo Salah: Age 31, Club
