Soccer is one of the most lucrative sports on the planet, with top players earning staggering sums through salaries and endorsements. Forbes releases an annual list of the world's highest-paid athletes, including soccer's top earners.
This list ranks the seven highest-paid soccer players from May 1, 2025 to May 1, 2026, showing how much they make and where the bulk of their fortunes come from.
How Do Soccer Players' Earnings Compare to Other Sports?
According to Forbes' list of the world's 50 highest-paid athletes, seven are soccer players. That is two fewer than the number of NFL players on the list—and significantly fewer than basketball, which boasts 19 athletes in the top 50, more than any other sport.
Tennis players, Formula 1 drivers, baseball stars, golfers and boxers also feature heavily among the world's highest earners. That said, two of the top three highest-paid athletes in the world are soccer players.
Highest Paid Soccer Players—Ranked
7. Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)
Total Earnings: $60 million
Most of Vinicius Junior's earnings came from his contract at Real Madrid, worth around $40 million in wages and bonuses. The rest came from sponsorship deals with brands including Gatorade, Luxottica Group, Marriott International, Nike, Pepsi, Unilever and Visa.
6. Erling Haaland (Man City)
Total Earnings: $80 million
Erling Haaland is the fifth-highest-paid soccer player in the world and the top earner in the Premier League. He earned $80 million, with around $60 million coming from his Manchester City contract. The remainder came from endorsement deals with brands including Beats by Dre, Breitling, Dolce & Gabbana, Electronic Arts, Marriott International, Midea, Nike, Supercell, Unilever and Visa.
5. Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid)
Total Earnings: $95 million
Kylian Mbappé stands out as the top earner in Europe. Around $70 million came from his contract at Real Madrid, with the remaining $25 million generated through endorsement deals with brands including Dior, Electronic Arts, Hublot, Nike, Oakley and Sorare.
4. Karim Benzema (Al Hilal)
Total Earnings: $104 million
A surprise entry at number three, veteran striker Karim Benzema broke nine digits. Around $100 million came from his contract with Al Hilal, while the remainder was thanks to endorsement deals, mostly through his partnership with adidas.
3. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
Total Earnings: $140 million
Coming in second, Lionel Messi is the third-highest-paid athlete across all sports. The World Cup winner's income was split roughly evenly between his contract with Inter Miami and his off-field earnings. Messi's endorsement portfolio includes long-standing deals with adidas, PepsiCo, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Apple, Beats by Dre, Epic Games, Hard Rock Cafe, Lowe's, Mastercard and Panini. He also owns a clothing line, beverage brand and hotel chain.
2. Karim Benzema (Al Hilal)
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr)
Total Earnings: $300 million
Cristiano Ronaldo is not only the highest-paid soccer player in the world, but also the highest-paid athlete overall. His massive earnings come from his contract with Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, along with numerous endorsement deals.