Soccer is not only the most popular sport in the world but also the best paying one. The Forbes list of the richest athletes is usually dominated by world-class players of both past and present and it is no surprise given the huge amount of money they rake in on a weekly basis.
All the players on this list are known for their extraordinary talents and popularity statuses which have earned them huge contracts at their various clubs and many lucrative deals with other business companies outside of soccer.
This list focuses on the cumulative net worth, based on their weekly salaries, endorsement deals, bonuses, and many other sources directly linked to soccer.
Let’s take a look at the 25 richest soccer players in the world and their net worth.
25. Antoine Griezmann (Net Worth – $60 Million)
| Salary | Endorsement Deals | Yearly Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| $21.2 | $5.5 | $26.7M |
Following his big-money move to Barcelona, Griezmann returned to Atletico Madrid after two seasons. He was on a very high salary at Barca and as a result, the club had to ship him off to try and curb their recent financial crisis.
His annual salary is at $21.2 million while also earning $5.5 million from endorsement deals with Puma and Huawei.
24. Karim Benzema (Net Worth – $70 Million)
| Salary | Endorsement Deals | Yearly Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| $11M | $15M | $26M |
Karim Benzema is without a shadow of a doubt one of the best and most consistent strikers of his generation. He has spent most of his stellar career at Real Madrid. He is considered “untouchable” by his club and has repeatedly been tied down with improved contracts over the years.
His annual total earnings of over $15 million including endorsement deals with Adidas, Hyundai, and EA Sports.
23. Radamel Falcao (Net Worth – $70 Million)
| Salary | Endorsement Deals | Yearly Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| $1.4M | $4M | $5.4M |
The Colombian striker has played for some top European sides over the years. His prime years may be behind him now but he sure did make enough money to make it on this rich list.
He used to earn $21.9 million with AS Monaco and Manchester United. Falcao also earns $4 million out of sponsorships with Gatorade, Puma, etc.
22. Luis Suarez (Net Worth – $70 Million)
| Salary | Endorsement Deals | Yearly Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| $7M | $3.5M | $10.5M |
Luis Suarez is arguably the greatest striker of his generation and one of the all-time greats. The Uruguayan has earned huge salaries playing for some of Europe’s biggest clubs over the years.
During his time at Barcelona, he earned an annual salary of $20.1 million and continues to earn $3.5 million from sponsorship deals with Adidas and Gatorade.
21. Oscar dos Santos (Net Worth – $70 Million)
| Salary | Endorsement Deals | Yearly Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| $27M | $1.5M | $28.5M |
The former Chelsea attacking midfielder openly admitted that he joined the Chinese league because of the money! His exact statement was “China makes offers players can’t refuse.”
For a long time now, the Shanghai SIPG player has been the highest-paid player in China with a weekly salary of 450,000 euros. He also earns about $1.5 million in endorsement deals.
20. Frank Ribery (Net Worth – $70 Million)
| Salary | Endorsement Deals | Yearly Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| $1.75M | $1.5M | $3.25M |
In 2007 Frank Ribery joined Bayern Munich for a then club-record fee of $25 million. He went on to win all the titles he competed for. On his day, Ribery was an exceptional winger and his club always rewarded him with new and improved contracts.
During his final contract with Bayern, he earned $17 million annually. He also earned $1 million per year with his Nike sponsorship deal.
19. Hulk (Net Worth – $70 Million)
| Salary | Endorsement Deals | Yearly Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| $20M | $2.5M | $22.5M |
Givanildo Vieira de Souza famed as “Hulk” is best known for his physique hence the nickname. He joined Chinese club Shanghai SIPG in 2016 for $61 million, a move that broke the Asian transfer record. Asian clubs are known for handing out huge salaries and it is no doubt that Hulk is making some good money out of it.
The Brazilian makes an outrageous $20 million per year as salary which is more than some world-class payers make in Europe. He has stayed in the Chinese league for a long time and looks set to stay there for the foreseeable future.
18. David De Gea (Net Worth – $75 Million)
| Salary | Endorsement Deals | Yearly Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| $23M | $3M | $26M |
The Spaniard is by far the highest-paid goalkeeper in the world has signed a contract extension with Manchester United in 2019. The shot-stopper earns a staggering $23 million per year in terms of salary. His sponsorship deals with PepsiCo and Adidas also bring him $3 million annually.
De Gea is one of the highest-paid players in the Premier League and will continue to be for a few more years.
17. Sergio Aguero (Net Worth – $80 Million)
| Salary | Endorsement Deals | Yearly Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| $12M | $5.5M | $17.5M |
The Manchester City legend is undoubtedly one of the best strikers of his generation. He has consistently been a thorn in the flesh for the opposition for many years. He is City’s all-time top scorer and a true Premier League great.
The Argentine recently joined FC Barcelona where he continues to ply his trade. Until recently, he was Man City’s highest earner taking home $17.1 million. Aguero also has endorsement deals with PepsiCo and Puma which earn him $5.5 million yearly.
16. Sergio Ramos (Net Worth – $80 Million)
| Salary | Endorsement Deals | Yearly Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| $20M | $3M | $23M |
The legendary defender left Real Madrid and joined PSG in a shocking move. He has already booked his place as one of the best ever in his position.
During his time in Spain, he made $18.8 million annually in salaries and winnings. Ramos also makes $3 million from endorsements deals with Nike and Anheuser Busch InBev. He continues to earn 200,000 euros weekly at PSG.
15. Mario Balotelli (Net Worth – $80 Million)
| Salary | Endorsement Deals | Yearly Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| $4.25m | $5.5M | $9.75M |
Nicknamed “Super Mario” by fans, Balotelli sure knows how to strike rich. His huge club contracts over the years have massively contributed to his net worth.
His lavish lifestyle further testifies to this fact as he owns expensive mansions and loves to flaunt his expensive cars. His endorsement deals with Hypervenom, Puma, etc. bring him $5.5 million yearly.
14. Gerrard Pique (Net Worth – $80 Million)
| Salary | Endorsement Deals | Yearly Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| $7.5M | $3M | $10.5M |
In his prime, Pique was one of the best defenders and was part of the great Spanish and Barcelona teams of the last decade. Before agreeing to take a massive pay cut to help his club with their bad financial situation, Pique was earning $10 million per year. Gerrard Pique is probably the soccer player who has the most investments made.
Featuring on this list while being a defender shows how he has managed to make money off the pitch. He owns Kosmos Holding which penned a 25-year contract of $3 billion with ITF.
He also pockets $3 million yearly from endorsements deals with Nike, Laureus Foundations, etc. Pique also owns FC Andorra and has majority stake in Gimnastic Manresa FC.
13. Arjen Robben (Net Worth – $80 Million)
| Salary (retired) | Endorsement Deals | Yearly Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| $7.5M | $5M | $12.5M |
The Dutch wing wizard was a nightmare for defenders at his best. He was one of the best soccer players of his generation and even has the right-wing named after him as “The Robben Street.”
Robben recently came out of retirement to play for his boyhood club, Groningen before going back to retirement due to injuries. He played for top European clubs including Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich.
At Bayern, Robben earned around $7.5 million/year. Being one of the best players in his prime, he had successful sponsorship deals with Adidas and EA Sports.
12. Robert Lewandowski (Net Worth – $85 Million)
| Salary | Endorsement Deals | Yearly Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| $24M | $12M | $36M |
The Polish striker is currently the best forward in world soccer. He plays German heavyweights Bayern Munich. Being the high-profile player he is, he has attracted many top European clubs and global companies alike.
In 2024 alone, he earned $30 million and still continues to be among the highest-paid athletes in the world.
He makes a basic salary of $24 million and around $17 million from his investments. Lewandowski has also endorsed brands like Nike, Huawei, Opel, and EA Sports where he gets a total of $12 million annually.
11. Mohammed Salah (Net Worth – $90 Million)
| Salary | Endorsement Deals | Yearly Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| $22.5M | $15M | $37.5M |
Based on his current form, he is undoubtedly the best player in the Premier League. He plays for Liverpool FC on a contract running through June 2023 that is heavily incentivized for his excellent performance.
At 29, he has already won all major titles with Liverpool and could be tempted to make a big-money move to other European giants outside England.
He earns an annual salary of $22.5 million at his club and also pockets $15 million from sponsorship deals with Adidas, ExxonMobil, and Pepsi.
10. Kylian Mbappe (Net Worth – $95 Million)
| Salary | Endorsement Deals | Yearly Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| $20M | $14M | $34M |
The French sensation is one of the best players in the world currently and his performances on the pitch are rewarded with a huge salary and performance bonuses. He makes over $20 million a year at PSG and around $14 million from endorsement deals with Nike, Hublot, and Electronic Arts.
Aged only 22 and with top European clubs desperately yearning to sign him at the end of the season, he is bound to make more than he does currently. In a few years, he could become the richest player on the planet, who knows?
9. Eden Hazard (Net Worth – $100 Million)
| Salary | Endorsement Deals | Yearly Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| $25M | $5M | $30M |
The Belgian international is best known for his dribbling skills and currently plays for Real Madrid. He formerly played for Chelsea where he was the talisman and highest-paid player with an annual salary of $15.4 million.
His current weekly wages at Real Madrid are estimated to be around 416,000 pounds. Hazard also makes money through sponsorship deals with Nike, Tops, and Electronic Arts totaling $5 million.
8. Andres Iniesta (Net Worth – $120 Million)
| Salary | Endorsement Deals | Yearly Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| $2.5M | $7.5M | $10M |
Andres Iniesta is arguably the best midfielder of all time and is known for his elite playmaking abilities. He was an integral part of that Barcelona team that dominated world soccer in the past decade. Iniesta currently plays for Japanese club Vissel Kobe where he earns almost triple the salary he earned at Barcelona.
He used to earn a weekly salary of $240,000 in his former club but currently earns about $600,000 at Vissel Kobe. The Barca legend also has fantastic endorsement deals with Nissan and Nike where he reportedly rakes in $5 million per year. Finally, Iniesta also has the highest shares in Albacete FC in Spain of $400,000.
7. Mesut Ozil (Net Worth – $120 Million)
| Salary | Endorsement Deals | Yearly Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| $5M | $10M | $15M |
The German is undoubtedly one of the best playmakers of his generation. He played his best soccer at Real Madrid and Arsenal and currently plays for Turkish side Fenerbahce S.K.
His bumper contract with Arsenal in the past earned him a spot on this list. The contract was worth 350,000 pounds per week which would last until 2024 but was canceled leading to his departure.
The club still paid what was owed to him and still continues to make good money from endorsement deals with companies such as Adidas, Mercedes-Benz, and Beats Electronics.
6. Paul Pogba (Net Worth – $125 Million)
| Salary | Endorsement Deals | Yearly Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| $20M | $40M | $60M |
His $120 million transfer to Manchester United in 2016 broke the transfer record which saw him earn $20 million per annum for the next five years. He is set to earn much more than that if he renews his deal with United. He has an endorsement deal most notably with Adidas which is valued at 31 million euros per year.
Pogba is known to live lavishly as he puts on expensive clothes and owns luxurious cars including Rolls-Royce Wraith, Bentley Flying Spur, Audi RS6 Power R, and others.
5. Gareth Bale (Net Worth – $150 Million)
| Salary | Endorsement Deals | Yearly Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| $20M | $11 | $31M |
Gareth Bale joined Real Madrid in 2013 in a world-record transfer fee from Tottenham Hotspurs. He has signed big contracts with his club over the years and is currently earning an estimated $20 million in wages. During his loan spell at Spurs, he earned $12 million for the entire season.
He also makes money from endorsement deals with Adidas, Konami, EA Sports, Nissan Motor among others.
4. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Net Worth – $195 Million)
| Salary | Endorsement Deals | Yearly Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| $5M | $10M | $15 |
Is there a top club Ibra hasn’t played for? I seriously doubt that. He has played for several European heavyweights including Manchester United, Barcelona, PSG, Juventus among others. He is well into his forties and still plays top-level football with AC Milan.
The Swede is already one of the best strikers of all time and isn’t showing signs of slowing down.
Zlatan currently earns an annual salary of about $5 million while also receiving over $10 million from several endorsement deals such as Nike, Microsoft Xbox, Nivea, Samsung, and Volvo.
He also owns luxurious houses in Sweden worth over $14 million and drives very expensive cars including Ferrari Enzo, Lamborghini Gallardo, and Maserati, etc.
3. Neymar Jr (Net Worth – $200 Million)
| Salary/Bonuses | Endorsement Deals | Yearly Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| $70M | $28M | $98M |
The Brazilian talent is best known for his outrageous skills and as expected, he makes some good money out of it. He plays for PSG having previously played for Barcelona and currently holds the record of being the most expensive player of all time.
Neymar is expected to earn around $95 million, with $70 million coming from salaries and bonuses. He attracts a lot of revenue for his club and as such is entitled to huge bonuses. The remaining income comes from endorsement deals such as Panasonic, Air Jordan, Gillette, and Puma.
The Brazilian is known for his lavish lifestyle further proving his financial strength.
2. Lionel Messi (Net Worth – $400 Million)
| Salary | Endorsements | Yearly Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| $33M | $77M | $110M |
After 21 years of magic at FC Barcelona, Lionel Messi finally left his boyhood club for French giants PSG in a very dramatic fashion. The Argentine is widely considered the greatest soccer player of all time and with such a reputation, money is bound to follow him wherever he goes.
In 2017, he signed a deal worth $168 million as an annual salary while also earning $40 million from endorsements totaling over $200 million per year.
At Barcelona, he was the highest-paid athlete by a distance but was forced to take a pay cut in his new club. He is set to earn $110 million in PSG with $33 million as salary.
Messi also has lucrative deals with companies like Adidas, Pepsi, Jacobs & CO, Budweiser and also owns a brand of clothing, The Messi Store which brings him good returns.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Net Worth – $500 Million)
| Salary | Endorsement Deals | Yearly Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| $70M | $55M | $125M |
The Portuguese forward is the richest soccer player on the planet. His recent switch from the Italian club, Juventus to Manchester United made him the bestselling player on the Fanatics sports merchandise site. He even pipped his closest rival Lionel Messi who also switched clubs a few weeks earlier. Owing to the fact that he is the most popular athlete on the planet, he has the strongest selling power.
In the 2024-22 season, he is set to earn $125 million pre-tax with $70 million coming from salary and bonuses at United and the rest coming from personal endorsements and partnerships with global brands like Nike, Herbalife, Tag Heuer, and Clear.
He earns good profits from his own CR7-branded portfolio that includes underwear, perfumes, hotels, etc. He also cashes in well from his social media accounts where he has more than half a billion followers cumulatively.
Ronaldo likes to live lavishly as evidenced by his fleet of cars, private jets, and expensive clothing. While still playing at the highest level and his investments continually growing, he will continue to top this list for a long time.
