The financial landscape of global football continues to be a contentious subject, with player wages often sparking debate. According to GiveMeSport, salaries have continued to soar in 2026, with the significant investment from Saudi Arabia playing a major role in reshaping football’s wage structure. This analysis focuses purely on club wages, excluding bonuses, image rights, and other performance-related earnings.
The new generation leads the way
As ranked by GiveMeSport, Manchester City’s Norwegian goal machine Erling Haaland sits at the top of football’s earning hierarchy. His staggering £525,000-per-week salary, agreed as part of a monumental 10-year contract signed in January 2025, reflects his extraordinary impact on the Premier League. Haaland famously shattered the league’s goalscoring record in his debut campaign, scoring 36 goals in just 35 appearances.
Following closely is Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe, who earns £512,992 per week. The 27-year-old joined the Spanish giants from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024 and made history this summer by becoming the World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer. Despite his remarkable achievements, the Ballon d’Or remains the one major individual prize still missing from his collection.
Mbappe’s Real Madrid teammate Vinicius Junior also features prominently in GiveMeSport’s ranking of football’s highest earners, taking home £480,000 per week. The Brazilian winger committed his long-term future to Los Blancos by signing a six-year contract extension until 2032, according to The Sun. His lucrative deal comes despite a rare trophyless season for Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid side.
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Saudi Arabia’s significant impact
GiveMeSport’s list also highlights the growing financial power of the Saudi Pro League. Ivan Toney, who joined Al-Ahli from Brentford in 2024, is now the highest-paid English footballer, earning £418,765 per week. The striker’s move was followed by his selection in Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man England squad for the 2026 World Cup.
Sharing Toney’s weekly salary is Al-Hilal midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. The Serbian international joined the Saudi club from Lazio in 2023 and remains under contract until 2028. Another player benefiting from Saudi Arabia’s spending power is Darwin Nunez, who earns £368,533 per week at Al-Hilal after leaving Liverpool.
Bundesliga and veteran stars command high fees
The Bundesliga is also well represented in GiveMeSport’s highest-paid footballers ranking. Harry Kane earns £410,393 per week at Bayern Munich after joining from Tottenham Hotspur in 2023. Since arriving in Germany, the England captain has scored 146 goals in 147 appearances, winning two Bundesliga titles and the German Cup. Bayern honorary president Uli Hoeness even described Kane as “the best transfer we’ve ever made.”
Kane’s teammate Jamal Musiala represents football’s next generation, earning £374,771 per week. The 23-year-old signed a new contract in February 2025 that keeps him at Bayern until June 2030, despite missing a large portion of the 2025-26 season through injury.
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Even in the latter stages of their careers, some of football’s biggest icons remain among the game’s highest earners. Lionel Messi, now 39, earns £360,876 per week with Inter Miami after joining the MLS side in 2023. Meanwhile, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk takes home £350,000 per week, with the Dutch defender’s current contract running until the end of the 2026-27 season.
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