Ever wonder who’s making the big bucks in soccer? You’re not alone! Fans all over the world love to talk about player salaries. It’s fun to see who’s on top and how much they earn.
Did you know that in 2025, the top 10 highest-paid soccer players will make almost $1 billion combined? That’s a lot of money! In this blog, we’ll show you who these players are and how much they’ll earn.
Get ready to see some jaw-dropping numbers!
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City, Midfielder) - $39 million
Kevin De Bruyne is a big name in soccer. He plays for Manchester City and Belgium. In 2025, he’ll make $39 million. That’s a lot of money! $35 million comes from playing soccer. The other $4 million is from deals off the field.
De Bruyne is 33 years old and still at the top of his game.
I love playing for Manchester City. It’s where I want to be, De Bruyne said.
De Bruyne said no to big offers from Saudi teams. He wants to stay with Manchester City. He works with Nike and McDonald’s too. These deals help him make more money. Next on our list is Sadio Mané, who plays for Al-Nassr.
Sadio Mané (Al-Nassr, Forward) - $52 million
Sadio Mané is a big star in soccer. He plays for Al Nassr and makes $52 million a year. That’s a lot of money! But Mané doesn’t keep it all for himself. He gives back to his home country, Senegal.
Every month, he sends 70 euros to people there who need help.
Mané is 32 years old and known for being kind. He’s built things like a gas station and post office in Senegal. On the field, he scores lots of goals. Off the field, he helps his community.
Mané shows that soccer stars can use their money to do good things. Next up is another top player who’s making waves in the soccer world.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, Forward) - $53 million
Mohamed Salah is a big star in soccer. He plays for Liverpool and makes $53 million a year. That’s a lot of money! $35 million comes from playing soccer. The other $18 million is from ads and deals.
Salah is from Egypt and is very famous in North Africa and the Middle East.
Salah is 32 years old and has many fans. Almost 100 million people follow him on social media. Big companies like Vodafone and Adidas work with him. This helps him make even more money.
Salah’s skill on the field and his popularity off it make him one of the top-paid soccer players in the world.
Vinícius Jr. (Real Madrid, Forward) - $55 million
Moving up the list, we find a young star shining bright. Vinícius Jr. has made a big splash at Real Madrid. At just 24, he’s already scored 85 goals in 273 games. That’s quite a feat for someone who joined the club at 18.
Vinícius Jr. isn’t just good on the field. He’s also making waves off it. His total earnings hit $55 million, with $40 million from playing and $15 million from other deals. He’s got partnerships with big names like PlayStation and Pepsi.
His future looks bright too, with a contract at Real Madrid until 2027.
Vinícius Jr. is not just a player, he’s a phenomenon. – Real Madrid fan
Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Forward) - $60 million
Erling Haaland is a big deal in soccer right now. He’s only 24 but already makes $60 million a year! That’s $46 million from playing and $14 million from other stuff. Haaland plays for Manchester City, one of the best teams in England.
He’s helped them win three big titles: the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League.
Haaland is from Norway, which is cool. But his country hasn’t been to a World Cup since 1998 or a European Championship since 2000. That’s a long time! Still, Haaland keeps scoring goals and making money.
He’s one of the top strikers in the world, and people love to watch him play.
Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain, Forward) - $90 million
Kylian Mbappé is a big star in soccer. He plays for Real Madrid and is from France. At just 25, he makes a lot of money. He earns $90 million in total. $70 million comes from playing soccer.
The other $20 million is from things off the field. Fans love him so much that 80,000 people came to see him at his first press talk.
Mbappé has some money problems too. He’s in a fight with his old team, Paris Saint-Germain. They owe him $60 million in pay. Also, the French soccer league is having trouble. They wanted to make $1.1 billion from TV rights.
But they only got about $700 million. This affects how much players like Mbappé can earn.
Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad, Forward) - $104 million
Karim Benzema is a big deal in soccer. He plays for Al Ittihad and makes $104 million a year. That’s a lot of money! He gets $100 million for playing and $4 million for other stuff.
Benzema is 36 years old and comes from France.
Benzema had a tough start at Al Ittihad. He only played 21 games last season because he got hurt. But he still scored nine goals. This season, he’s doing better. He’s scored seven goals in just six games.
His team finished fifth last year, but they hope to do better with their new coach, Laurent Blanc.
Neymar Jr. (Al-Hilal, Forward) - $110 million
Moving up the list, we find Neymar Jr. at number nine. This Brazilian star shines bright with $110 million in earnings. He pockets $80 million on the field and $30 million off it. Neymar now plays for Al Hilal, a big change from his past teams.
At 32, Neymar still draws crowds. He has a huge fan base with 225 million Instagram followers. Sadly, he got hurt and tore his ACL. But his fame helps him land big deals. He works with Puma and Blaze Casino.
These team-ups add to his wealth. Even with his injury, Neymar remains one of soccer’s top earners.
Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Forward) - $135 million
From one soccer star to another, we move to Lionel Messi. This Argentine forward tops Neymar with a whopping $135 million in earnings. Messi, now 37, plays for Inter Miami CF. He rakes in $60 million on the field and $75 million off it.
His deal with the club runs until the end of 2025.
Messi’s not just a soccer ace. He’s also a money-making machine. He has big deals with Adidas and Apple TV. Plus, he owns a production company called 525 Rosario. Despite his age, Messi’s market value still sits at €20 million.
That’s pretty good for a player nearing 40!
Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr, Forward) - $285 million
Cristiano Ronaldo tops the list of highest-paid soccer players. He earns a whopping $285 million! That’s $220 million from playing and $65 million from other deals. Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in January 2023.
He’s still a big star at 39 years old.
Ronaldo is super popular on social media. He has over 900 million followers! That’s a lot of fans cheering him on. His current team is Al Nassr FC in Saudi Arabia. His contract runs until June 30, 2025.
Even though he’s older now, he’s still worth €12 million in the soccer market.
Bottom Line
Soccer stars make big bucks in 2025. The top ten players will earn a ton of money from their teams and ads. Karim Benzema leads the pack with $100 million. Kylian Mbappé follows close behind at $90 million.
Erling Haaland rounds out the top three with $60 million. These numbers show how much cash flows in pro soccer.
The list also points to changes in the sport’s money game. Some players moved to new leagues for higher pay. Others got big raises to stay put. Endorsements play a big role too. Brands love to team up with famous soccer stars.
This helps boost their total earnings even more.
