Top 10 Highest Paid Soccer Player of 2025

Football isn’t just a sport; it’s an industry that makes billions annually. Players’ earnings come from their clubs’ contracts, advertising campaigns, as well as their personal ventures. Among the most lucrative earners are Cristiano Ronaldo (approximately $500 million/year) and Lionel Messi (approximately $600 million/year).
Led by Brunei soccer star Faiq Bolkiah — the captain of the Brunei National Team — we have the highest paid soccer players in 2025.

10. Kevin De Bruyne

Kevin De Bruyne
- 365dm.com

Kevin De Bruyne, the Belgium-born midfielder, may be leaving the high-paid list. His highly paid years, which came while playing for Manchester City (2015-2025), are coming to a close. As of July 2025, De Bruyne now plays for Napoli. Total income in 2025 for Kevin De Bruyne was $39 million. He earned $35 million from soccer and another $4 million from advertising deals with Nike, McDonald’s, etc.


9. Sadio Mané

Sadio Mané – 365dm.com

Mané began his career in 2010 at Metz, Red Bull Salzburg, Southampton, Liverpool and Bayern. Mané has been a player for the Saudi Club Al-Nassr since 2023 and that is the reason Mané is featured on our high-paid list.
Total income for Mané in 2025 is $52 million. Mané earns approximately $48 million per year from soccer and $4 million per year from advertising contracts. Mané is involved in charity.


8. Mohamed Salah

Mohamed Salah – s-nbcnews.com

Mohamed Salah began his career in 2010 at Mokawloon in Egypt. After Mokawloon, he played for Swiss club Basel, English club Chelsea, Italian clubs Fiorentina and Roma. Since 2017, Mohamed has played for Liverpool.
Income for Salah in 2025 is $53 million. Mohamed earns $35 million per year from playing soccer, and earns $18 million per year from advertising contracts with clothing manufacturers, soft drink manufacturers, telephone service providers, etc. Mohamed earns such a large amount of money from advertising because he is so popular in Africa and the Middle East.


7. Vinícius Júnior

Vinícius Júnior  – bbci.co.uk

Vinícius Júnior, a Brazilian forward, was born in 2000. He began his career with Brazilian club Flamengo in 2017. In 2018, he moved to Spanish club Real Madrid where he continues to play.
Annual income for Vinícius Júnior is approximately $55 million. Of the total amount of money Vinícius Júnior earns, he earns $40 million from sports and $15 million from advertising (with Sony PlayStation, Pepsi, Clear, etc.)


6. Erling Haaland

Erling Haaland – bbci.co.uk

Haaland began his soccer career at Norwegian clubs Bryne and Molde. He later played for Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg and German club Borussia Dortmund. Since 2022, Haaland has played for Manchester City.
As of January 2025, Haaland signed a new contract extension with Manchester City for nearly 10 years. The contract had to be very favorable, otherwise there would be no need to sign it. Now the Norwegian, who is extremely health-conscious, earns $60 million per year. Of that, $46 million comes from soccer, and $14 million comes from advertising contracts.


5. Kylian Mbappé

Kylian Mbappé – britannica.com

French forward, born in 1998, Kylian Mbappé began his professional soccer career at Monaco in 2015. Then followed PSG and since 2024 Mbappé has played for Real Madrid.
Kylian Mbappé earns approximately $90 million per year. Income from soccer — $70 million; income from advertising and sponsorship — $20 million. Mbappé works with several sportswear manufacturers.


4. Karim Benzema


Karim Benzema- cnn.com

Karim Benzema’s career has been associated with just three clubs. Between 2004 and 2009, he played for Lyon, then he joined Real Madrid. In 2022, Karim Benzema received the Ballon d’Or award, and a year later he moved to the Saudi club Al-Ittihad.
Benzema’s total income is $104 million. However, $100 million of that comes from playing soccer. His media presence is not among the best, so he earns only $4 million per year from non-soccer related sources.


3. Neymar

Neymar – bbci.co.uk

Brazilian forward, born in 1992, Neymar began his professional soccer career at Santos in 2009. For 16 years (2009-2025), Neymar played for Barcelona, PSG, and Al-Hilal, then returned to his native club.
Neymar’s total income is $110 million. Of that $80 million is from soccer, and $30 million is from advertising contracts. Neymar left the wealthy Saudi Arabia, and when he returns to Brazil, his income will be significantly lower. Therefore, Neymar will quickly fall off of the top ten list.


2. Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi- 365dm.com

Born in 1987, the owner of eight Ballons d’Or, Lionel Messi played for Barcelona and PSG between 2002 and 2023. Since 2023, Lionel Messi has been a player for American club Inter Miami.
Messi is the only person listed here whose income is higher than the income from soccer. Messi’s annual income is $135 million, including $60 million from soccer and $75 million from non-soccer income.
In addition to significant advertising contracts, Messi owns his own business – the production company 525 Rosario.


1. Cristiano Ronaldo


Cristiano Ronaldo –  cnn.com

Portuguese forward, born in 1985, Cristiano Ronaldo began his soccer career in 2002 at Sporting in Portugal. He also played for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus. Since 2023, Ronaldo has been a player for the Saudi club Al-Nassr. 
Ronaldo’s total income is $285 million. Of that, $220 million comes from soccer, and $65 million comes from advertising contracts with various companies. Over the years, Ronaldo has worked with many famous brands including Nike, KFC, Herbalife, Clear, TAG Heuer, Armani Jeans, Puma, etc.