Cristiano Ronaldo tops Forbes highest-paid footballers list again
Cristiano Ronaldo has once again topped the Forbes list of highest-paid footballers for the 2025-26 season, marking his sixth time in the last decade. With earnings of around $280 million, including both on- and off-field income, the 40-year-old star at Al Nassr earns more than double the amount of second-place Lionel Messi, who makes an estimated $130 million with off-field earnings being a major contributor.
Karim Benzema ranks third, earning $104 million at Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, followed by Sadio Mane in eighth with $54 million. The list also features players from the English Premier League, like Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah, while Spain’s La Liga has multiple players, including Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, and Jude Bellingham. The total earnings of the top 10 players for this season are estimated to reach $945 million.
