Cristiano Ronaldo Tops the List: The 50 Highest-Paid Football Veterans – Ranked from Lowest to Highest
Football is often considered a young man’s game, but many veteran players continue to thrive at the highest level—both on the pitch and financially. While some have remained in Europe’s top leagues, others have secured lucrative moves to Saudi Arabia, where wages have skyrocketed in recent years.
With experience and star power still in high demand, these players earn staggering salaries despite being well into their 30s. We’ve taken a deep dive into the highest-paid veteran footballers in the world, ranking them from the lowest to the highest earner. In this article your considered a veteran if you are 30 or older.
50. Alphonse Areola – £120,000 per week / £6,240,000 per year
The French goalkeeper plays for West Ham United, where he serves as a solid option between the posts. His wages amount to £120,000 per week and a total of £6.24 million per year.
49. Kieran Trippier – £120,000 per week / £6,240,000 per year
Newcastle United’s experienced right-back has been a key player for the club, earning a substantial £120,000 per week and £6.24 million annually.
Read also: The 25 Best Strikers in World Football Right Now - Ranked from Lowest to Highest
48. Matthias Ginter – £120,918 per week / £6,287,756 per year
The German defender plays for SC Freiburg, bringing leadership and defensive stability to the Bundesliga side. He takes home £120,918 weekly, adding up to over £6.28 million per year.
47. Romelu Lukaku – £123,161 per week / £6,404,350 per year
Currently playing for Napoli, the Belgian striker remains one of the highest-paid forwards, earning £123,161 per week and over £6.4 million annually.
46. Danny Ings – £125,000 per week / £6,500,000 per year
The West Ham United striker is among the top earners at the club, with a weekly salary of £125,000, totaling £6.5 million per year.
45. Raphaël Guerreiro – £128,125 per week / £6,662,523 per year
The Portuguese left-back plays for Bayern Munich, where his technical ability and versatility are rewarded with a salary of £128,125 per week, or £6.66 million per year.
Read also: The 10 Managers with most points per game in Champions League
44. Emre Can – £128,125 per week / £6,662,523 per year
The former Liverpool and Juventus midfielder is now at Borussia Dortmund, earning £128,125 per week and an annual income of £6.66 million.
43. César Azpilicueta – £128,125 per week / £6,662,523 per year
After a long career at Chelsea, the Spanish defender now plays for Atlético Madrid, where he collects £128,125 per week and £6.66 million per year.
42. Abdoulaye Doucouré – £130,000 per week / £6,760,000 per year
The Mali international is a key player for Everton, earning £130,000 per week and a total of £6.76 million per year.
41. Bernd Leno – £130,000 per week / £6,760,000 per year
Fulham’s first-choice goalkeeper has established himself in the Premier League, earning £130,000 per week and £6.76 million per year.
40. Axel Witsel – £133,411 per week / £6,937,352 per year
The Belgian midfielder plays for Atlético Madrid, where his experience and tactical intelligence earn him a weekly salary of £133,411, totaling nearly £7 million per year.
39. Jamie Vardy – £140,000 per week / £7,280,000 per year
The Leicester City legend continues to be one of the highest-paid players in the Championship, earning £140,000 per week and £7.28 million annually.
38. Emiliano Martínez – £150,000 per week / £7,800,000 per year
The World Cup-winning goalkeeper plays for Aston Villa, earning £150,000 per week and £7.8 million per year.
37. Alisson – £150,000 per week / £7,800,000 per year
Liverpool’s Brazilian shot-stopper is among the highest-paid goalkeepers in the world, with a salary of £150,000 per week and £7.8 million annually.
Read also: The 20 Best Goalkeepers in the World Right Now - Ranked
36. Iñigo Martínez – £150,227 per week / £7,811,808 per year
The Spanish center-back joined FC Barcelona and earns £150,227 per week, adding up to over £7.81 million per year.
35. Lucas Vázquez – £150,227 per week / £7,811,808 per year
The Real Madrid utility player has been a valuable squad member for years, earning £150,227 per week and £7.81 million annually.
34. Christian Eriksen – £150,000 per week / £7,800,000 per year
The Danish playmaker is an important figure at Manchester United, where he earns £150,000 per week and £7.8 million per year.
33. Bono – £160,157 per week / £8,328,154 per year
The Moroccan goalkeeper made a big-money move to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, where he earns £160,157 per week, or £8.33 million per year.
Read also: The Top Penalty Scorers in Europe’s Big Five Leagues This Season
32. Luka Modric – £166,883 per week / £8,677,936 per year
The legendary Croatian midfielder continues to be a key figure at Real Madrid, earning £166,883 weekly and £8.67 million per year.
31. Daniel Carvajal – £166,883 per week / £8,677,936 per year
The Spanish right-back remains a crucial part of Real Madrid’s defense, earning £166,883 per week and £8.67 million annually.
30. Edouard Mendy – £176,172 per week / £9,160,969 per year
After leaving Chelsea, the Senegalese goalkeeper now plays in Saudi Arabia, where he earns £176,172 per week, totaling over £9.16 million annually.
29. Harry Maguire – £190,000 per week / £9,880,000 per year
The Manchester United defender has faced criticism but remains one of the highest-paid center-backs in the Premier League, earning £190,000 per week and nearly £9.88 million annually.
28. Heung-min Son – £190,000 per week / £9,880,000 per year
Tottenham’s South Korean star is among the best wingers in the Premier League, with a weekly salary of £190,000 and an annual total of £9.88 million.
27. Thomas Partey – £200,000 per week / £10,400,000 per year
The Ghanaian midfielder plays a crucial role for Arsenal, earning £200,000 per week and £10.4 million annually.
26. Antoine Griezmann – £200,196 per week / £10,410,192 per year
The French forward has rediscovered his best form at Atlético Madrid, where he earns £200,196 weekly and over £10.41 million per year.
25. Paulo Dybala – £207,563 per week / £10,793,287 per year
The Argentine playmaker continues to shine at AS Roma, where his talent is rewarded with a salary of £207,563 per week and over £10.79 million per year.
24. Yannick Carrasco – £208,204 per week / £10,826,600 per year
The Belgian winger recently moved to Saudi Arabia’s Al Shabab, securing a lucrative contract worth £208,204 weekly and over £10.82 million annually.
23. Fabinho – £224,220 per week / £11,659,415 per year
The former Liverpool midfielder now plays in Saudi Arabia, earning £224,220 per week and a total of nearly £11.66 million per year.
22. Virgil van Dijk – £220,000 per week / £11,440,000 per year
Liverpool’s defensive leader is one of the highest-paid center-backs in the world, earning £220,000 weekly and £11.44 million annually.
21. Ilkay Gündoğan – £230,000 per week / £11,960,000 per year
After leaving Barcelona, the German midfielder returned to Manchester City, where he earns £230,000 per week and £11.96 million per year.
20. Antonio Rüdiger – £233,509 per week / £12,142,344 per year
The German center-back left Chelsea for Real Madrid and now takes home £233,509 per week, amounting to over £12.14 million per year.
19. Georginio Wijnaldum – £240,235 per week / £12,492,230 per year
The Dutch midfielder has moved to the Saudi Pro League, where he earns a weekly salary of £240,235, totaling over £12.49 million per year.
18. Thibaut Courtois – £240,235 per week / £12,492,230 per year
Real Madrid’s first-choice goalkeeper remains one of the highest-paid shot-stoppers in football, with a weekly wage of £240,235 and a total of £12.49 million annually.
17. Thomas Müller – £272,267 per week / £14,157,861 per year
The German forward has spent his entire career at Bayern Munich, where he continues to be well compensated with a salary of £272,267 per week and £14.16 million per year.
16. Roberto Firmino – £304,298 per week / £15,823,492 per year
After leaving Liverpool, the Brazilian forward signed a lucrative deal in Saudi Arabia, earning £304,298 per week and over £15.82 million per year.
15. Manuel Neuer – £336,329 per week / £17,489,123 per year
The Bayern Munich captain remains one of the world’s highest-paid goalkeepers, receiving £336,329 weekly and over £17.48 million annually.
14. Jan Oblak – £333,607 per week / £17,347,544 per year
Atlético Madrid’s Slovenian goalkeeper is among La Liga’s best-paid players, with a weekly salary of £333,607 and an annual total of £17.34 million.
13. Casemiro – £350,000 per week / £18,200,000 per year
The experienced Brazilian midfielder is one of Manchester United’s top earners, taking home £350,000 per week and £18.2 million annually.
12. Mohamed Salah – £350,000 per week / £18,200,000 per year
Liverpool’s Egyptian winger remains one of the highest-paid players in the Premier League, earning £350,000 per week and £18.2 million per year.
11. David Alaba – £360,353 per week / £18,738,346 per year
The versatile Austrian defender plays for Real Madrid, where his weekly salary of £360,353 amounts to over £18.73 million per year.
10. Marcelo Brozović – £387,579 per week / £20,154,132 per year
After leaving Inter Milan, the Croatian midfielder moved to the Saudi Pro League, where he now earns £387,579 per week, totaling over £20.15 million per year.
9. Kevin De Bruyne – £400,000 per week / £20,800,000 per year
Manchester City’s Belgian playmaker is the highest-paid player at the club, earning an impressive £400,000 per week and a total of £20.8 million annually.
8. Harry Kane – £400,392 per week / £20,820,384 per year
After his blockbuster move to Bayern Munich, the English striker secured a lucrative contract worth £400,392 per week, totaling £20.82 million per year.
7. N’Golo Kanté – £400,392 per week / £20,820,384 per year
The former Chelsea midfielder moved to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad, where he earns the same wage as Harry Kane—£400,392 per week and over £20.82 million per year.
6. Robert Lewandowski – £533,803 per week / £27,757,753 per year
FC Barcelona’s star striker remains one of the top earners in La Liga, receiving £533,803 per week, amounting to an annual salary of £27.75 million.
5. Kalidou Koulibaly – £555,744 per week / £28,898,693 per year
The Senegalese defender left Chelsea for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, where his earnings skyrocketed to £555,744 per week and over £28.89 million per year.
4. Sadio Mané – £640,627 per week / £33,312,614 per year
After a short spell at Bayern Munich, the Senegalese forward moved to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, where he earns £640,627 per week and over £33.3 million per year.
3. Riyad Mahrez – £836,019 per week / £43,472,962 per year
The Algerian winger left Manchester City for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, securing a massive contract worth £836,019 per week and £43.47 million per year.
2. Karim Benzema – £1,601,568 per week / £83,281,536 per year
The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner left Real Madrid for Al-Ittihad, where his salary of £1,601,568 per week makes him one of the highest-paid footballers in history, earning over £83.28 million annually.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo – £3,203,136 per week / £166,563,072 per year
The highest-paid veteran footballer in the world is none other than Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese icon plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, earning an astronomical £3,203,136 per week, which amounts to a staggering £166.56 million per year.
