The Top 5 Highest Paid Soccer Players: Our Highlights
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In recent years, the soccer world has taken on a life of its own, financially speaking. The growth began back in 1992 when the Premier League was formed in England, providing a significant boost to the 20 – 18 at the time – best clubs in England. One of the biggest broadcasters Sky Sports forked out what many considered to be a whopping £304m to entice clubs to break away from the Football League, and that proved just the money boost required.
However, even that eye-watering figure pales in comparison to the most recent deal signed. The ongoing domestic rights contract costs a mighty £6.7bn to broadcast Premier League fixtures, and that doesn’t even take into account overseas deals as well. The result has seen money piled into clubs – both in England and overseas – at a shocking rate, and much of that money has gone directly from clubs to their star players to remain competitive on the pitch.
Why Soccer Players Get Paid So Much
The astronomical earnings of top professional soccer players often spark curiosity and debate. Why do these athletes get paid so much? Well, when an estimated 4 billion people are watching the biggest games such as the FIFA World Cup final, it’s obvious that such attention will translate into a lot of money.
While TV deals remain the primary source of income, sponsorship has also taken on a huge role. Companies are eager to associate their brands with the sport’s top stars, resulting in multi-million-dollar endorsement deals, both to players and to clubs. One such association is with gambling companies.
Online betting and casino sites are one of the primary sponsors within the soccer world. Sponsorship deals bring millions of dollars to clubs all over the world, as well as providing supporters with access to sports-themed slot games and other betting tools to keep spectators on the edge of their seats.
In Australia and neighboring countries, these slot games are commonly known as ‘pokies,’ a term derived from ‘poker machines.’ Pokies have become deeply ingrained in the local gambling culture, often found in pubs, clubs, and casinos, as well as online platforms.
Some of the most popular online pokies in Australia happen to be sports-themed – for example, Gridiron Glory, Hockey Enforcers, Cricket Legends, and Zombie FC all combine the thrill of sports with gambling.
Such games have proven to be a hit the world over, resulting in companies broadening their horizons with sponsorship deals, taking slot games all over the world.
But it isn’t just betting sites. Legends like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have become brand ambassadors for major corporations ranging from sportswear giants to luxury brands and consumer electronics throughout their respective careers. These sponsorship deals often exceed their on-field earnings, highlighting the commercial power these players wield.
So, with money being pumped into soccer at an alarming rate of knots, which players have benefited the most? Here are the current highest-paid soccer stars.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Legendary Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo is currently the highest-paid player on the planet. He made waves on the eve of the most recent FIFA World Cup two years ago in an interview with Piers Morgan that cost him his job with Manchester United. But that only worked out for the best for CR7 as he signed a whopping $214m deal with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, in addition to the $60m a year he earns from off-field ventures.
Despite being 39 years of age, the former Real Madrid man remains an icon. He scored 50 goals in 51 appearances in the Arabian Gulf state last season taking the Saudi Pro League to never-before-seen heights in the process. A plethora of Europe’s top stars followed Ronaldo to the country, and further additions are expected with the continued growth of the league in the coming years.
Neymar Jr.
Neymar changed the game when he made the move to PSG from Barcelona back in 2017. The €222m was – and remains – the highest transfer fee ever paid for a player, and it saw transfer valuations skyrocket the world over. Unfortunately, the Brazilian icon was unable to bring the UEFA Champions League to the French capital and last summer, the Parisians cut their losses and sold their main man to Saudi outfit Al Hilal for €90m.
The former Santos youngster is the second-highest player on the planet with total earnings of $200m, $165m of which is a base salary from his club. The deal is one that Neymar probably couldn’t believe he was being offered, especially considering his injury woes in recent years. Still, he won’t be complaining.
Lionel Messi
One such man who was expected to follow Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia – perhaps even to the same club – was Barcelona icon Lionel Messi. He left Paris Saint-Germain at the expiry of his contract last summer following a disappointing two-year spell in the French capital, and there were plenty of potential suitors for his signature.
Moves to both Saudi and former club Barcelona were touted, but ultimately it was a surprise move to David Beckham’s MLS franchise Inter Miami that ultimately came to fruition. His move to Florida has been a game-changer, both for soccer in the US and for arguably the greatest player that’s ever lived financial portfolio.
His on-field earnings of $65 million pale in comparison to those of Ronaldo, but his off-field endorsements bring in a further $70 million more than doubling his total. Plus there are many perks in Messi’s contract that allowed Miami to pull off the deal of the century, such as a future equity stake in the franchise, a percentage of Apple TV profits – MLS’ broadcast partner the world over – as well as a percentage of Adidas profits as well.
Karim Benzema
Another superstar who made the move from Europe to Saudi Arabia was former Real Madrid talisman Karim Benzema. He followed Ronaldo to the Arabian Gulf last summer on a free transfer from Los Blancos while being the reigning Ballon d’Or holder, just one year on from winning the UEFA Champions League for the fifth time.
He is paid a whopping $128m by Al-Ittihad, with $108m of that being his salary from the club and an additional $20m for being an ambassador for the 2030 FIFA World Cup which will be held in Saudi Arabia.
Kylian Mbappé
French national team captain Kylian Mbappé is arguably the best player on the planet and he used to feature much higher on this list during his time with Paris Saint-Germain, However, the maverick Frenchman just took a pay cut to make the move of a lifetime to Real Madrid, strengthening the reigning European Champions even further. He is paid a reported $116m at the Bernabeu, down $8.2m from his former deal in the French capital.
Like Messi in Miami however, the 25-year-old has a plethora of additional perks and rights deals that will see his yearly skyrocket. And that’s without mentioning the reported $160m signing-on fee he pocketed from Los Blancos courtesy of the fact that they didn’t have to pay a transfer fee to Mbappe’s former employers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Happened to Neymar?
Injuries and a lavish lifestyle ultimately stopped the Brazilian icon from becoming an all-time great like Pele and Ronaldinho before him. We’re sure that doesn’t bother him too much considering his hefty pay packet with Al-Hilal.
Does Ronaldo Still Play for Portugal?
Despite heading off to finish his career on mega money in Saudi Arabia, Cristiano Ronaldo is still officially the captain of the Portuguese national team. At the age of 39 and with the next World Cup still two years away, it remains to be seen how much longer that will remain the case.
Conclusion
So, there you have it, the five highest-paid players on the planet. And perhaps surprisingly, only one of them currently plays in Europe. With three superstars now featuring in Saudi Arabia, perhaps it is the Kingdom that is the new place to be for elite footballing talent.
The Arabian Gulf State has managed to infiltrate sport in all kinds of ways in recent years. Marquee boxing bouts, huge WWE events, golf tournaments and even the ownership of Newcastle United now belong to the Saudis. Don’t be surprised to see the Saudi Pro League become the new top dog in the beautiful game in the coming years.
Does that sound right or does that sound crazy?
