Andy Warhol once said: ”Making money is art.” In today’s modern landscape, footballers are some of the most successful artists in any industry. The average Premier League player earns considerably more in a week (£50,000) than a typical UK employee will take home over the course of an entire year (£35,000). The economic divide turns into a chasm when considering the elite earners among football’s lofty rich list.
England’s top flight may be the most lucrative on the planet, but clubs from across three different continents can boast some of the highest-paid footballers. Here’s a closer look at the ten players who have mastered the art of making money.
Club salary: £26.9m
Off-field earnings: £3.1m
Pep Guardiola, not usually a figure guilty of hyperbole, hailed De Bruyne as “one of the greatest, greatest, greatest players of this club”. That lofty status is evident based on his healthy salary, but the Belgian could have raked in even more if he had accepted offers from Saudi Arabia over the summer.
“If I play there for two years, I will be able to earn an incredible amount of money,” De Bruyne admitted in June. “Before that I had to play football for 15 years and I may not even reach that amount yet.”
Club salary: £36.9m
Off-field earnings: £3.1m
Beyond his eight-digit annual salary, Sadio Mane cited cultural benefits when moving to Saudi Arabia. “Since I had the opportunity I spoke to my family and they were happiest because it is a Muslim country,” Mane explained to Arab News.
“My mum especially encouraged me to go…it is important to my faith.”
Club salary: £26.9m
Off-field earnings: £13.8m
Mohamed Salah’s status as Liverpool’s best-paid player underpins his healthy bank balance further boosted by lucrative sponsorship deals.
The grinning goalscorer has been endorsing blue-chip brands for years with his profile exploding after joining Liverpool in 2017.
“I’ve learned throughout my career,” Salah said shortly after signing his bumper deal for Reds in 2023,
“that if you want to be successful it is important to invest in yourself not just physically but also mentally.”
Club salary: £30.8m
Off-field earnings: £11.5m
As recently as 2022 – same year he scored only goal winning Champions League final for Real Madrid – Vinicius Junior was one club’s lowest-paid players.
Only four members squad earned less than Brazilian’s weekly wage little over £100k.
Even Mariano Diaz took home more than Vinicius.
Real Madrid rectified that economic error while forward’s performances opened up more monetary opportunities off pitchErling Haaland, the Norwegian striker, joined Manchester City for a fee of £51.2m in the 2022 transfer window. Despite several clubs being interested in him, City offered the most attractive financial package, making Haaland the highest-paid player in the Premier League.
Kylian Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid in 2024 was accompanied by a sentimental gesture. He unveiled a replica model of the Santiago Bernabeu stadium that he had received as a child. Although his free transfer involved astronomical figures, Mbappe had to accept a pay cut when leaving Paris Saint-Germain.
Karim Benzema’s move to Al Ittihad saw him become their reigning Ballon d’Or holder. However, there were signs of regret from Benzema on his first day at the club as he looked uncomfortable while his new teammates chanted his name. Despite public spats with managers and teammates, Benzema’s salary of over £1.5m per week has kept him at Al Ittihad.
Neymar’s move to Al Hilal for more than £60m per year has not been value for money so far due to an injury that has kept him off the pitch since October 2023. Each minute Neymar played for Al Hilal in his absent debut season was worth more than £160,000.
Lionel Messi’s career has always been intertwined with money. His father couldn’t afford entry into stadiums to watch Messi play as a youth player, leading to him being moved to another team. Barcelona eventually had to let Messi leave because they couldn’t afford his contract demands. Inter Miami brought Messi to South Beach in 2023 with Apple and Major League Soccer broadcasters bankrolling his mega-deal.
These high-profile transfers highlight both the financial power and personal stories behind them in modern football.Cristiano Ronaldo, the renowned footballer, is earning a staggering amount of money compared to his peers. His club salary amounts to £169.1 million, which is more than double what any other player in the world earns. In addition to his on-field earnings, Ronaldo also rakes in £50 million from various off-field ventures.
Despite his immense wealth, Ronaldo has previously stated that money is not his top priority. He views it as a means to achieve comfort and independence once he retires from football. This mindset was evident when he was still playing for Real Madrid back in 2016.
However, with his recent move to Al Nassr in 2022, Ronaldo has secured the largest contract in football history. This deal ensures that not only he but also future generations of his family will live a life of luxury and financial security.
The exact details of the contract remain undisclosed at this time. Nevertheless, it is clear that Cristiano Ronaldo’s financial success extends far beyond just his salary as a professional athlete.