Top 117 Highest-Paid Football Players in the World – Ranked from Lowest to Highest
Have you ever wondered what the highest-paid football players in the world earn and how much separates the top earner from number 118 on the list? We’ve got the answer for you here, as we rank the 118 highest-paid players worldwide from lowest to highest. (Excluding players from the Chinese league, this list features players from the Premier League, La Liga, Ligue 1, Serie A, Saudi Pro League, MLS, and Bundesliga.)
117. Dusan Tadic – €7,000,000
Dusan Tadic earns an impressive annual salary of €7 million, showcasing his value as a consistent performer on the field.
116. Fred – €7,000,000
Fred’s annual earnings of €7 million underline his solid role in midfield.
115. Edin Dzeko – €7,000,000
Veteran striker Edin Dzeko brings home €7 million each year.
Read also: The 25 Best Strikers in World Football Right Now - Ranked from Lowest to Highest
114. Stefan de Vrij – €7,040,000
De Vrij’s defensive skills earn him €7.04 million annually.
113. Ismaël Bennacer – €7,040,000
Bennacer’s tactical midfield contributions are valued at €7.04 million per year.
112. Paulo Dybala – €7,040,000
Star playmaker Dybala secures €7.04 million annually for his creativity on the pitch.
111. Federico Dimarco – €7,410,000
Dimarco’s annual salary of €7.41 million reflects his growing importance in his team’s defensive and offensive plays.
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110. Presnel Kimpembe – €7,680,000
Kimpembe earns a solid €7.68 million per year, underscoring his role as a key defensive asset.
109. Romelu Lukaku – €7,690,000
Lukaku’s annual salary of €7.69 million reflects his prowess as a top striker.
108. Marcus Thuram – €7,690,000
Thuram earns €7.69 million per year, showcasing his growing reputation in football.
107. Sergio Busquets – €8,231,259
Busquets takes home over €8.23 million annually, a testament to his years of excellence and leadership on the field.
106. Piotr Zieliński – €8,330,000
Zieliński’s €8.33 million yearly salary highlights his value as a creative force in midfield.
105. Douglas Luiz – €8,330,000
Douglas Luiz earns €8.33 million per year, proving his worth as a dependable midfielder.
104. Álvaro Morata – €8,330,000
Morata’s annual salary of €8.33 million reflects his continued presence as a reliable striker.
103. Warren Zaïre-Emery – €8,400,000
Zaïre-Emery earns €8.4 million per year, an impressive figure for the young and talented player.
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102. Randal Kolo Muani – €9,090,000
Kolo Muani’s €9.09 million annual salary showcases his growing reputation as a top striker.
101. João Neves – €9,090,000
João Neves earns €9.09 million annually, proving his rising influence in professional football.
100. Alessandro Bastoni – €9,200,000
Bastoni’s €9.2 million yearly income highlights his status as a crucial part of his team’s defensive structure.
99. Bremer – €9,200,000
With an annual salary of €9.2 million, Bremer is recognized as one of the top defenders in the game.
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98. Ferran Torres – €10,000,000
Torres’s versatility earns him €10 million annually.
97. Victor Osimhen – €10,000,000
Osimhen’s prolific goal-scoring ability is rewarded with €10 million a year.
96. Rafa Silva – €10,000,000
Rafa Silva’s dynamic style of play brings him an annual salary of €10 million.
95. João Palhinha – €10,000,000
Palhinha earns €10 million annually for his commanding performances in midfield.
94. Dayot Upamecano – €10,000,000
Upamecano’s defensive expertise secures him €10 million per year.
93. Ciro Immobile – €10,000,000
Immobile’s consistent scoring earns him €10 million annually.
92. Dani Ceballos – €10,420,000
Ceballos’s midfield versatility is valued at €10.42 million per year.
91. Nico Williams – €10,420,000
Young talent Nico Williams earns €10.42 million annually.
90. Luka Modric – €10,420,000
The veteran playmaker’s experience is rewarded with €10.42 million a year.
89. Ferland Mendy – €10,420,000
Mendy’s defensive contributions earn him €10.42 million annually.
88. Daniel Carvajal – €10,420,000
Carvajal’s reliability at right-back is valued at €10.42 million per year.
87. Hakan Çalhanoğlu – €11,110,000
The midfield maestro earns €11.11 million annually.
86. Alphonso Davies – €11,250,000
Davies’s explosive pace secures him €11.25 million per year.
85. Lionel Messi – €11,758,080
Although Messi was once one of the highest-paid players in the world, this is no longer the case in the USA. In the MLS, Messi earns a salary of €11,758,080. However, he makes enormous sums through sponsorships and other ventures, which significantly boost his overall income, keeping him among the highest-paid athletes globally.
84. Iñaki Williams – €11,400,000
Iñaki’s consistency on the wing brings him €11.4 million annually.
83. Josko Gvardiol – €12,000,000
Gvardiol’s rising defensive prowess is valued at €12 million annually.
82. Antony – €12,000,000
Antony’s flair on the pitch secures him €12 million per year.
81. Gabri Veiga – €12,000,000
Veiga’s emerging talent earns him €12 million annually.
80. Min-jae Kim – €12,000,000
Kim’s solid defensive performances bring him €12 million per year.
79. Nicolò Barella – €12,040,000
Barella earns €12.04 million annually for his consistent midfield contributions.
78. Matthijs de Ligt – €12,200,000
De Ligt’s commanding presence in defense is valued at €12.2 million per year.
77. Ben Chilwell – €12,376,000
Chilwell takes home €12.38 million per year, showcasing his value as one of the top defenders in the league.
76. Raphinha – €12,500,000
Raphinha earns €12.5 million annually, emphasizing his role as a creative winger in his squad.
75. Rodrygo – €12,500,000
Rodrygo’s skill and potential bring him €12.5 million annually.
74. Eduardo Camavinga – €12,500,000
Camavinga’s impressive performances earn him €12.5 million annually.
73. Aurélien Tchouaméni – €12,500,000
Tchouaméni’s midfield dominance secures him €12.5 million annually.
72. Antoine Griezmann – €12,500,000
Griezmann’s experience and skill are rewarded with €12.5 million per year.
71. Mohamed Simakan – €12,500,000
Simakan’s defensive abilities earn him €12.5 million annually.
70. Gianluigi Donnarumma – €12,730,000
Donnarumma’s €12.73 million yearly salary highlights his importance as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
69. Leon Goretzka – €13,000,000
Goretzka’s versatility brings him €13 million per year.
68. Yannick Carrasco – €13,000,000
Carrasco’s flair earns him €13 million annually.
67. Otávio – €13,000,000
Otávio’s creative play is valued at €13 million per year.
66. Michael Olise – €13,500,000
Olise’s potential earns him €13.5 million annually.
65. Jules Koundé – €13,550,000
Koundé’s defensive skill secures him €13.55 million annually.
64. Ansu Fati – €13,950,000
The young forward earns €13.95 million per year.
63. Phil Foden – €14,000,000
Foden’s creativity and technical skill are rewarded with €14 million annually.
62. Virgil van Dijk – €14,000,000
Van Dijk’s leadership in defense earns him €14 million annually.
61. Rodri – €14,000,000
Rodri’s midfield control is valued at €14 million per year.
60. Fabinho – €14,000,000
Fabinho’s defensive midfield role secures him €14 million annually.
59. Franck Kessié – €14,000,000
Kessié’s versatility brings him €14 million per year.
58. Achraf Hakimi – €14,550,000
Hakimi’s attacking prowess from the back earns him €14.55 million annually.
57. Marco Asensio – €14,550,000
Asensio’s creativity and goalscoring ability are valued at €14.55 million per year.
56. Éder Militão – €14,580,000
Militão’s defensive reliability earns him €14.58 million annually
55. Antonio Rüdiger – €14,580,000
Rüdiger’s commanding presence at the back secures him €14.58 million annually.
54. Georginio Wijnaldum – €15,000,000
Wijnaldum earns €15 million per year, underlining his consistent midfield performances.
53. Leroy Sané – €15,000,000
Sané’s pace and creativity are rewarded with €15 million annually.
52. Thibaut Courtois – €15,000,000
Courtois’s goalkeeping excellence earns him €15 million annually.
51. Martin Ødegaard – €15,000,000
Ødegaard’s vision and leadership bring him €15 million per year.
50. Declan Rice – €15,000,000
Rice’s defensive midfield mastery earns him €15 million annually.
49. Seko Fofana – €15,200,000
Fofana’s influence in midfield is valued at €15.2 million per year.
48 Moussa Diaby – €15,300,000
Diaby takes home €15.3 million annually, reflecting his role as a dynamic winger in attack.
47. João Cancelo – €15,310,000
Cancelo’s versatility secures him €15.31 million annually.
46. Reece James – €15,500,000
James’s defensive and attacking abilities bring him €15.5 million per year.
45. John Stones – €15,500,000
Stones’s reliability in defense earns him €15.5 million annually.
44. Mason Mount – €15,500,000
Mount’s creativity and goalscoring contributions are valued at €15.5 million per year.
43. Milan Škriniar – €16,360,000
Škriniar’s defensive solidity earns him €16.36 million annually.
42. Gabriel Jesus – €16,398,200
Gabriel Jesus earns an impressive €16.4 million annually, showcasing his talent as a top forward.
41. Federico Valverde – €16,670,000
Valverde’s energy and versatility are rewarded with €16.67 million annually.
40. Lautaro Martínez – €16,670,000
Martínez’s attacking prowess secures him €16.67 million per year.
39. Marquinhos – €16,800,000
Marquinhos’s leadership in defense is valued at €16.8 million per year.
38. Kingsley Coman – €17,000,000
Coman’s pace and technical ability bring him €17 million annually.
37. Kai Havertz – €17,000,000
Havertz’s creativity and goalscoring ability earn him €17 million per year.
36. Rúben Neves – €17,300,000
Neves’s control in midfield is rewarded with €17.3 million annually.
35. Bruno Fernandes – €18,000,000
Fernandes’s creativity and goal contributions secure him €18 million annually.
34. Jack Grealish – €18,000,000
Grealish’s flair and skill earn him €18 million per year.
33. Malcom – €18,000,000
Malcom’s attacking creativity is valued at €18 million annually.
32. Marcus Rashford – €18,000,000
Rashford’s pace and goalscoring ability bring him €18 million annually.
31. Bernardo Silva – €18,000,000
Silva’s technical excellence secures him €18 million annually.
30. Serge Gnabry – €18,870,000
Gnabry’s goals and assists earn him €18.87 million per year.
29. Roberto Firmino – €19,000,000
Firmino’s creativity and work rate bring him €19 million annually.
28. Lucas Hernández – €19,000,000
Hernández’s defensive skills are valued at €19 million annually.
27. Frenkie de Jong – €19,000,000
De Jong’s midfield dominance secures him €19 million annually.
26. Joshua Kimmich – €19,500,000
Kimmich’s versatility is rewarded with €19.5 million annually.
25. Ousmane Dembélé – €20,000,000
Dembélé’s pace and flair secure him €20 million per year.
24. Thomas Müller – €20,500,000
Müller’s leadership and creativity earn him €20.5 million annually.
23. Jan Oblak – €20,830,000
Oblak’s goalkeeping excellence is valued at €20.83 million annually.
22. Vinícius Júnior – €20,830,000
Vinícius’s attacking flair secures him €20.83 million per year.
21. Jude Bellingham – €20,830,000
Bellingham’s rising stardom brings him €20.83 million annually.
20. Casemiro – €21,000,000
Casemiro’s defensive midfield role is valued at €21 million annually.
19. Manuel Neuer – €21,000,000
Neuer’s experience and goalkeeping ability bring him €21 million per year.
18. Mohamed Salah – €21,000,000
Salah’s goalscoring brilliance earns him €21 million annually.
17. David Alaba – €22,500,000
Alaba’s versatility in defense and midfield is rewarded with €22.5 million annually.
16. Erling Haaland – €22,500,000
Haaland’s prolific goalscoring ability secures him €22.5 million per year.
15. Kevin De Bruyne – €24,000,000
De Bruyne’s playmaking excellence is valued at €24 million annually.
14. Marcelo Brozović – €24,200,000
Brozović’s midfield control earns him €24.2 million per year.
13. Aymeric Laporte – €24,500,000
Laporte’s defensive reliability brings him €24.5 million annually.
12. N’Golo Kanté – €25,000,000
Kanté’s tireless work ethic is rewarded with €25 million annually.
11. Aleksandar Mitrović – €25,000,000
Mitrović’s goal contributions earn him €25 million per year.
10. Sergej Milinković-Savić – €25,000,000
Milinković-Savić’s midfield dominance secures him €25 million annually.
9. Harry Kane – €25,000,000
Kane’s consistency in scoring goals is rewarded with €25 million annually.
8. Ivan Toney – €25,510,000
Toney’s incredible performances bring him €25.51 million per year.
7. Kylian Mbappé – €31,250,000
Mbappé’s global stardom and unmatched talent earn him €31.25 million annually.
6. Robert Lewandowski – €33,330,000
Lewandowski’s legendary goal-scoring form secures him €33.33 million per year.
5. Kalidou Koulibaly – €34,700,000
Koulibaly’s commanding defensive role earns him €34.7 million annually.
4. Sadio Mané – €40,000,000
Mané’s electric performances bring him €40 million per year.
3. Riyad Mahrez – €52,200,000
Mahrez’s skillful play is valued at €52.2 million annually.
2. Karim Benzema – €100,000,000
Benzema’s elite forward play secures him €100 million annually.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo – €200,000,000
Ronaldo tops the list with an unmatched annual salary of €200 million, solidifying his place as the highest-paid footballer in the world. From a sporting perspective, it may not exactly be a step up for Cristiano Ronaldo, but when it comes to his salary, it has significantly increased compared to what he could have earned elsewhere.
