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The world's highest-paid footballers 2026

Forbes' annual ranking of the top 10 earners in football: salary and bonuses on the pitch, sponsorship and business income off it.

Read our story on the list →
  1. 1Cristiano Ronaldo
    Cristiano Ronaldo$300m
    Al Nassr
    On the pitch $250m · Off the pitch $50m
  2. 2Lionel Messi
    Lionel Messi$145m
    Inter Miami
    On the pitch $70m · Off the pitch $75m
  3. 3Kylian Mbappé
    Kylian Mbappé$100m
    Real Madrid
    On the pitch $70m · Off the pitch $30m
  4. 4Erling Haaland
    Erling Haaland$85m
    Manchester City
    On the pitch $60m · Off the pitch $25m
  5. 5Vinícius Júnior
    Vinícius Júnior$76m
    Real Madrid
    On the pitch $48m · Off the pitch $28m
  6. 6Lamine Yamal
    Lamine Yamal$55m
    Barcelona
    On the pitch $35m · Off the pitch $20m
  7. 7Sadio Mané
    Sadio Mané$54m
    Al Nassr
    On the pitch $50m · Off the pitch $4m
  8. 8Jude Bellingham
    Jude Bellingham$45m
    Real Madrid
    On the pitch $29m · Off the pitch $16m
  9. 9Harry Kane
    Harry Kane$42m
    Bayern Munich
    On the pitch $29m · Off the pitch $13m
  10. 10Mohamed Salah
    Mohamed Salah$40m
    Trabzonspor
    On the pitch $20m · Off the pitch $20m

Key facts

  • The ten players are expected to earn a combined $942 million, down slightly from $945 million in 2025.
  • Ronaldo and Messi are the top two earners for the fourth season running and for the 12th time in 13 years.
  • Lionel Messi is the only player in the top ten who earns more off the pitch than on it.
  • La Liga has four players on the list, three of them Real Madrid teammates; Haaland is the only Premier League player.
  • Harry Kane is back in the top ten for the first time since 2023, while Karim Benzema drops out after leaving his Saudi club.

Source: Forbes, 17 October 2026. Estimates for the 2026-27 season, in US dollars, before taxes and agents' fees.