Overview
- Forbes estimates Cristiano Ronaldo at €239 million for 2025, driven by Al-Nassr wages plus extensive sponsorship and business income.
- Lionel Messi ranks second at €111 million, with Karim Benzema (€89 million), Kylian Mbappé (€81 million) and Erling Haaland (€68 million) completing the top five.
- The next spots go to Vinicius Jr (€51 million), Mohamed Salah (€47 million), Sadio Mané (€46 million) and Jude Bellingham (€38 million), with Lamine Yamal tenth at €37 million.
- At 18, Yamal’s total reflects a Barcelona extension and rising brand deals, with roughly $33 million from on-field earnings and about $10 million from endorsements in 2025–26.
- Coverage notes that transfers to Saudi Arabia and MLS, together with expanding commercial portfolios, are reshaping football’s earnings leaderboard.