- Cristiano Ronaldo was the highest-earning player in the 2024-25 season, earning over $312 million.
- Diego Simeone tops the list of highest-earning coaches, raking in just over $48 million per year.
- Lionel Messi is the fourth-highest on-field earner ($83.41 million).
More than ever, the world’s elite soccer players are regarded as commodities, which is reflected by their swollen salaries.
While clubs like Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Liverpool are renowned for offering massive contracts to elite players, the Saudi Pro League has recently emerged as a prominent big spender.
But who are the 10 highest-paid soccer players, and how much do they earn? I dive into the embarrassment of riches while also featuring the five highest-paid coaches.
All earnings are in Canadian dollars.
10 Highest-Paid Soccer Players in the World, Ranked
| Rank | Name | Team | Salary (million, $CDN) |
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Al Nassr | $312.3 |
| 2 | Karim Benzema | Al-Ittihad | $139.1 |
| 3 | Kylian Mbappe | Real Madrid | $97.13 |
| 4 | Lionel Messi | Inter Miami | $83.41 |
| 5 | Erling Haaland | Manchester City | $66.63 |
| 6 | Sadio Mane | Al-Nassr | $66.63 |
| 7 | Neymar | Santos FC | $63.85 |
| 8 | Vinicius Junior | Real Madrid | $55.51 |
| 9 | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | $48.52 |
| 10 | Kevin De Bruyne | Napoli (formerly Manchester City) | $48.6 |
Which Soccer Player Has the Highest Salary?
The discrepancy in earnings between the highest and second-highest earner is outrageous, with 40-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo as the soccer player with the highest salary right now.
CR7 earned $312.3 million just for playing footy in 2025. Ronaldo rakes in about $380 million per year after adding his off-field earnings. He has been atop the Forbes highest earners list for three straight years.
Arguably the world’s best footballer of all time, an assertion fourth-highest earner Lionel Messi would take issue with, Ronaldo signed with Saudi Pro League team Al Nassr in December 2022.
He earns $173 million more per year than Karim Benzema, the second-highest earner.
Three of the 10 highest earners play in the Saudi Pro League, two play for Real Madrid in La Liga, one (Neymar) plays in Brazil for Santos FC, and two played for Manchester City in the Premier League. However, Kevin De Bruyne has since moved to Napoli in Italy.
The remaining two are Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and the aforementioned Messi, who plays in the United States.
Having these elite players among your ranks is not only beneficial for club business, but it also often facilitates shorter soccer odds.
Who Is the Highest-Paid Soccer Coach in 2025?
While the highest-earning players make a lot more than coaches, there’s no need to feel bad for those who patrol the sidelines.
Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone tops the list of highest-earning coaches, raking in just over $48 million per year.
That’s almost the same as De Bruyne, the 10th-highest earning player. Simone Inzaghi, who has just signed for Al-Hilal, earns $40.48 million, the second-highest salary of any manager.
Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola ($38.44 million), Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta ($28.97 million), and Al-Nassr’s Stefano Pioli ($28.78 million) round out the top five earners.
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