
Cristiano Ronaldo has once again been named the highest-paid footballer in the world, according to Forbes, leading a top ten group whose combined annual earnings reach $945 mln. Despite being 40 and in the twilight of his legendary career, the Portuguese star still dominates both on and off the pitch.
Ronaldo, who extended his contract with Saudi club Al Nassr for another two years, is expected to earn $230 mln on the field during the 2025/26 season, including bonuses and commercial incentives. Forbes estimates his total annual income at $280 mln when off-field deals with Nike, Binance, and Herbalife are included. This marks the sixth time in ten years that he has topped the global earnings chart. Since Forbes began tracking athlete income in 1990, only boxer Floyd Mayweather has earned more in a single year.

Lionel Messi ranks second with an estimated $130 mln, while Karim Benzema of Al Ittihad takes third with $104 mln. Kylian Mbappé follows in fourth place with $95 mln, and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland rounds out the top five with $80 mln after extending his contract with the Premier League champions.
Lamine Yamal Becomes Youngest to Join Top 10
For the first time, Forbes’ list includes Barcelona’s 18-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal, who enters at number ten with $43 mln, setting a new record as the youngest footballer ever featured. Alongside him is Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, ninth with $44 mln, further highlighting football’s generational shift.

The rise of these young stars makes La Liga the most represented league this year, with four players in the top ten. Saudi Arabia’s Pro League follows with three — Ronaldo, Benzema, and Sadio Mané ($54 mln) — while the Premier League contributes two: Haaland and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah ($55 mln). Messi remains the sole representative of Major League Soccer.
Overall, the threshold to enter the ranking rose to $43 mln, up from $39 mln last season, even as total combined earnings fell by 4% due to Neymar’s departure from the top ten. The Brazilian’s move from Al Hilal back to Santos sharply reduced his income from $110 mln to an estimated $38 mln this season.
Despite an active transfer market and record $4 bn in spending by Premier League clubs this summer, eight of the players on the list have remained with their current teams.
Off the pitch, Ronaldo continues to grow his global CR7 brand, spanning hotels, gyms, and fashion, and now boasts over one billion followers across social platforms — the most of any individual worldwide. Messi has expanded his business ventures too, launching his own sports drink brand and investing in restaurants and hotels.
As Forbes notes, half of the players on this year’s list are under 29 — the highest proportion since 2020 — with the average age dropping below 30 for the first time in five years.