The 100 Highest-Paid Footballers in the World – Ranked from Lowest to Highest
Mohamed Salah has just signed a new contract, securing a significant pay raise that places him firmly among the highest-paid footballers in the world. The Egyptian star has long been one of the sport’s top performers, and his new deal now reflects his elite status both on and off the pitch.
In light of Salah’s contract extension, we’ve taken a closer look at the global salary landscape in football. Here is the updated ranking of the 100 highest-paid players in the world — listed from lowest to highest based on their weekly and annual earnings.
100. Dani Carvajal – £167,572.10 per week / £8,713,749 per year
A reliable full-back with years of top-level experience. His consistency and winning mentality are rewarded with a solid paycheck.
99. Nico Williams – £167,572.10 per week / £8,713,749 per year
A fast-rising winger with skill and pace to burn. His breakout performances have made him one of Spain’s hottest young talents.
98. Luka Modrić – £167,572.10 per week / £8,713,749 per year
A midfield icon still competing at a high level. His leadership and vision continue to earn him a place among top earners.
97. Vitinha – £175,298.10 per week / £9,115,151 per year
A technically gifted playmaker with a growing role. His smooth passing and vision put him on the map financially.
96. Édouard Mendy – £176,899.54 per week / £9,198,776 per year
A tall and commanding goalkeeper with strong reflexes. His rise to prominence earned him a high-value deal.
95. Hakan Çalhanoğlu – £178,667.75 per week / £9,290,763 per year
A dead-ball specialist with leadership qualities. His presence in midfield is rewarded with a sizable weekly salary.
94. Manuel Akanji – £180,000.00 per week / £9,360,000 per year
A calm and composed defender with tactical discipline. His versatility in the back line makes him a valuable asset.
93. Gabriel Martinelli – £180,000.00 per week / £9,360,000 per year
An exciting attacker known for sharp runs and intensity. His work rate and finishing ability are matched by his earnings.
92. Rúben Dias – £180,000.00 per week / £9,360,000 per year
A defensive leader with strength and precision. His ability to command a backline ensures a place among the best-paid defenders.
91. Trent Alexander-Arnold – £180,000.00 per week / £9,360,000 per year
A playmaking full-back who redefined the position. His range of passing and creativity are reflected in his wage.
90. Enzo Fernández – £180,000.00 per week / £9,360,000 per year
A classy midfielder with calm under pressure. His talent and maturity at a young age have earned him a major contract.
89. Iñaki Williams – £183,332.25 per week / £9,533,277 per year
A speedster with incredible durability and consistency. His loyalty and attacking threat make him a well-paid regular.
88. Warren Zaïre-Emery – £183,332.25 per week / £9,533,277 per year
A teenage sensation breaking through with maturity. His rapid rise is already matched by an impressive salary.
87. Galeno – £188,638.46 per week / £9,809,240 per year
A direct winger with pace and strength. His performances on the wing have earned him a powerful contract.
86. William Saliba – £190,000.00 per week / £9,880,000 per year
A composed defender with elite potential. His coolness under pressure makes him one of the best-paid young center-backs.
85. Harry Maguire – £190,000.00 per week / £9,880,000 per year
A tall and physical defender with leadership qualities. Despite ups and downs, he remains a high earner.
84. Heung-min Son – £190,000.00 per week / £9,880,000 per year
A fan-favorite forward known for his speed and finishing. His consistent output keeps him in the top wage tier.
83. Min-jae Kim – £193,942.75 per week / £10,035,023 per year
A strong and intelligent center-back with aerial presence. His rapid development has led to a well-deserved salary.
82. Gabri Veiga – £193,942.85 per week / £10,035,028 per year
A creative young midfielder with sharp instincts. His bold move abroad has paid off in both opportunity and earnings.
81. Nicolò Barella – £193,624.46 per week / £10,068,472 per year
A tireless box-to-box midfielder with passion and precision. His intensity and big-game performances make him highly valued.
80. Matthijs de Ligt – £195,000.00 per week / £10,140,000 per year
A physically dominant defender with strong leadership. His reputation continues to command top-level wages.
79. Bukayo Saka – £195,000.00 per week / £10,140,000 per year
One of the world’s brightest young attackers. His consistency, creativity, and maturity have earned him a top-tier contract.
78. Christopher Nkunku – £195,000.00 per week / £10,140,000 per year
An agile and unpredictable forward with technical brilliance. His ability to play multiple roles boosts his value.
77. Mohamed Simakan – £196,827.46 per week / £10,235,028 per year
A dynamic defender with power and recovery speed. His versatility in defense contributes to a solid paycheck.
76. Rodrygo – £200,025.27 per week / £10,453,154 per year
An impactful forward with cool finishing under pressure. His contributions in big moments justify his high salary.
75. Aurélien Tchouaméni – £200,025.27 per week / £10,453,154 per year
A physical and intelligent defensive midfielder. His composure and range make him a fixture in any elite midfield.
74. Raphinha – £200,025.27 per week / £10,453,154 per year
A direct and skillful winger with a lethal left foot. His flair and work rate are matched by a strong contract.
73. Pedri – £200,025.27 per week / £10,453,154 per year
A calm and elegant playmaker with rare maturity. His intelligence and control make him one of football’s top young earners.
72. Eduardo Camavinga – £200,025.27 per week / £10,453,154 per year
A versatile midfielder who thrives under pressure. His high salary reflects his importance across several roles.
71. Antoine Griezmann – £200,025.27 per week / £10,453,154 per year
A creative and experienced forward with vision and flair. Despite his age, his quality keeps him among the elite earners.
70. Josko Gvardiol – £200,000.00 per week / £10,400,000 per year
A composed left-footed defender with top-level awareness. His calm under pressure earns him a strong weekly wage.
69. Wesley Fofana – £200,000.00 per week / £10,400,000 per year
A promising center-back whose career has been hampered by injuries. Despite setbacks, his potential secures his salary.
68. Achraf Hakimi – £212,279.44 per week / £11,038,531 per year
A lightning-fast full-back with attacking instincts. His ability to change games from defense justifies a top wage.
67. Lucas Hernández – £212,279.44 per week / £11,038,531 per year
A tough and versatile defender with World Cup experience. His defensive strength and leadership come with a premium salary.
66. Marquinhos – £216,492.19 per week / £11,247,594 per year
A dependable center-back known for leadership and consistency. His long-standing quality earns him a significant salary.
65. Michael Olise – £217,103.98 per week / £11,289,407 per year
A technically refined playmaker with sharp decision-making. His rise in influence has translated into a lucrative contract.
64. Jules Koundé – £217,523.44 per week / £11,331,219 per year
An agile and alert defender with excellent positioning. His flexibility across the backline justifies his top-level earnings.
63. Leon Goretzka – £209,909.25 per week / £10,875,281 per year
A powerful midfielder with box-to-box energy. His physical dominance and work ethic are reflected in his pay.
62. Otávio – £209,909.25 per week / £10,875,281 per year
A tenacious and creative midfielder who links play seamlessly. His ability to drive attacks earns him a spot among the best paid.
61. Virgil van Dijk – £220,000.00 per week / £11,440,000 per year
A dominant defender who transformed his team’s back line. His presence and leadership remain invaluable.
60. Rodri – £220,000.00 per week / £11,440,000 per year
One of the most composed and intelligent midfielders in the world. His control of the game is rewarded with a premium wage.
59. Ansu Fati – £224,340.77 per week / £11,665,720 per year
A young forward with dazzling footwork and potential. Despite injury struggles, he still earns like a future superstar.
58. Marcus Rashford – £225,000.00 per week / £11,700,000 per year
A hometown hero with pace and purpose. His impact both on and off the field is matched by his weekly wage.
57. Phil Foden – £225,000.00 per week / £11,700,000 per year
A gifted playmaker with vision and flair. His consistency at the highest level secures his place among top earners.
56. Fabinho – £225,144.87 per week / £11,707,533 per year
A disciplined midfielder known for reading danger. His experience and reliability justify his salary.
55. Franck Kessié – £225,144.87 per week / £11,707,533 per year
A tireless presence in midfield with strength and drive. His all-around skillset earns him a strong wage.
54. Éder Militão – £234,088.83 per week / £12,192,559 per year
A quick and aggressive defender with aerial ability. His performances on big stages have boosted his market value.
53. Antonio Rüdiger – £234,088.83 per week / £12,192,559 per year
A vocal leader at the heart of defense. His physicality and confidence earn him elite compensation.
52. Declan Rice – £240,000.00 per week / £12,480,000 per year
A midfield general known for breaking up play and building attacks. His recent move raised both expectations and salary.
51. Martin Ødegaard – £240,000.00 per week / £12,480,000 per year
A creative engine with vision and poise. As a captain and key playmaker, his earnings reflect his growing status.
50. Georginio Wijnaldum – £241,226.63 per week / £12,543,785 per year
A hardworking midfielder with great experience and energy. His box-to-box style and tactical intelligence keep him well-paid.
49. Leroy Sané – £241,226.63 per week / £12,543,785 per year
A winger with pace, precision, and flair. His ability to stretch defenses and deliver goals earns him a top salary.
48. Alphonso Davies – £241,226.63 per week / £12,543,785 per year
An electrifying full-back with unmatched speed. His attacking mindset and versatility justify his elite-level wages.
47. Thomas Müller – £241,226.63 per week / £12,543,785 per year
A footballing genius with a knack for space and timing. His consistency and leadership have secured a long-standing spot among the best paid.
46. Thibaut Courtois – £241,226.63 per week / £12,543,785 per year
One of the most reliable shot-stoppers in world football. His calm presence in goal has led to massive earnings.
45. João Cancelo – £246,596.15 per week / £12,823,000 per year
A modern full-back known for creativity and technical excellence. His impact at both ends of the pitch commands a premium wage.
44. Reece James – £250,000.00 per week / £13,000,000 per year
A physical right-back with skill and vision. His mix of power and delivery earns him a spot among England’s top earners.
43. John Stones – £250,000.00 per week / £13,000,000 per year
A composed center-back who thrives in possession-based systems. His passing range and reliability have boosted his market value.
42. Mason Mount – £250,000.00 per week / £13,000,000 per year
A tireless playmaker with a well-rounded attacking skillset. His work rate and intelligence on the ball have earned him a strong salary.
41. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – £263,867.08 per week / £13,681,088 per year
A dazzling winger with elite one-on-one ability. His breakout season propelled him into the high-earning tier.
40. Moussa Diaby – £264,643.44 per week / £13,761,459 per year
A rapid forward with explosive dribbling and direct play. His performances on the wing have resulted in a lucrative deal.
39. Gabriel Jesus – £265,000.00 per week / £13,780,000 per year
A high-energy forward known for pressing and link-up play. His consistency in big games earns him a strong weekly wage.
38. Federico Valverde – £268,083.21 per week / £13,940,327 per year
A relentless midfielder capable of playing multiple roles. His stamina and work ethic are matched by top-tier compensation.
37. Lautaro Martínez – £268,083.21 per week / £13,940,327 per year
A sharp and aggressive striker with a killer instinct. His goalscoring consistency makes him one of the top earners in his position.
36. Malcom – £289,664.27 per week / £15,052,542 per year
An underrated talent with excellent technique and finishing. His performances abroad have made him a well-compensated attacker.
35. Ousmane Dembélé – £289,664.27 per week / £15,052,542 per year
A lightning-quick winger known for dazzling footwork. Injuries aside, his talent secures him a top wage bracket.
34. Omar Marmoush – £295,000.00 per week / £15,340,000 per year
A powerful forward with direct attacking style. His recent form has earned him a massive jump in salary.
33. Jack Grealish – £300,000.00 per week / £15,600,000 per year
A stylish playmaker with elite ball control. His charisma and creative influence make him a valuable commercial and sporting asset.
32. Bernardo Silva – £300,000.00 per week / £15,600,000 per year
An intelligent midfielder with unmatched tactical awareness. His versatility in midfield and forward roles earns him elite pay.
31. Bruno Fernandes – £300,000.00 per week / £15,600,000 per year
A midfield engine with goals and assists in his game. His leadership and consistency are rewarded with top-tier earnings.
30. Serge Gnabry – £303,463.12 per week / £15,780,082 per year
A clinical wide forward with pace and composure. His ability to deliver in big games has earned him a high-value deal.
29. Jamal Musiala – £303,463.12 per week / £15,780,082 per year
One of the brightest young stars in football. His creativity, intelligence, and flair make him one of the game’s best-paid prospects.
28. Frenkie de Jong – £305,553.73 per week / £15,888,794 per year
A smooth and elegant midfielder who controls the game. His calm under pressure and distribution earn him elite compensation.
27. Roberto Firmino – £305,553.73 per week / £15,888,794 per year
A selfless and intelligent attacker known for pressing and link-up play. His all-around contribution justifies his generous wage.
26. Dušan Vlahović – £312,822.02 per week / £16,256,745 per year
A strong and powerful striker with deadly finishing. His goal-scoring ability has placed him among the sport’s top earners.
25. Joshua Kimmich – £321,635.52 per week / £16,725,047 per year
A tactical mastermind who thrives in multiple roles. His vision and consistency make him invaluable — and very well paid.
24. Jhon Durán – £328,421.35 per week / £17,067,910 per year
A young forward with a strong physical presence. His breakout performances have quickly translated into a major paycheck.
23. Vinicius Junior – £334,983.38 per week / £17,419,136 per year
A lightning-quick winger with flair and precision. His status as a global star is matched by his impressive salary.
22. Jan Oblak – £334,983.38 per week / £17,419,136 per year
A world-class goalkeeper with composure and command. His reliability under pressure keeps him among the highest-paid stoppers.
21. Jude Bellingham – £334,983.38 per week / £17,419,136 per year
A generational midfield talent with power and poise. Despite his age, he’s already earning like a global icon.
20. Manuel Neuer – £337,717.29 per week / £17,561,299 per year
A goalkeeping legend with vision and confidence. His influence and legacy keep him in football’s financial elite.
19. Casemiro – £350,000.00 per week / £18,200,000 per year
A tenacious and experienced midfielder with a winning mentality. His leadership and defensive intelligence drive his value.
18. David Alaba – £361,839.96 per week / £18,815,678 per year
An elite defender with technical finesse and tactical flexibility. His adaptability makes him one of the highest-paid defenders in the world.
17. Marcelo Brozović – £389,102.06 per week / £20,237,307 per year
A midfield metronome with balance and vision. His consistency in deep-lying roles commands a top-level wage.
16. Aymeric Laporte – £393,055.42 per week / £20,488,182 per year
A composed center-back with a sweet left foot. His leadership and calm presence earn him a premium contract.
15. Kevin De Bruyne – £400,000.00 per week / £20,800,000 per year
A master playmaker with vision and world-class delivery. His consistency and creativity place him firmly in the top salary bracket.
14. Mohamed Salah – £400,000.00 per week / £20,800,000 per year
A relentless goal scorer with elite dribbling and pace. His global profile and consistent performances earn him massive wages.
13. Harry Kane – £402,044.38 per week / £20,906,308 per year
One of the best finishers in world football. His intelligent movement and leadership ensure he remains among the sport’s highest earners.
12. Sergej Milinković-Savić – £402,044.38 per week / £20,906,308 per year
A commanding midfielder with technique and presence. His all-around ability is reflected in his premium salary.
11. N’Golo Kanté – £402,044.38 per week / £20,906,308 per year
A tireless ball-winner with unmatched work ethic. Beloved by fans and teammates alike, his wage reflects his impact on the pitch.
10. Aleksandar Mitrović – £402,044.38 per week / £20,906,308 per year
A traditional number nine with brute strength and aerial dominance. His goal-scoring threat ensures a place among the highest-paid strikers.
9. Ivan Toney – £410,338.31 per week / £21,337,592 per year
A clinical finisher with excellent penalty technique and hold-up play. His breakthrough year has led to a blockbuster salary.
8. Kylian Mbappé – £502,555.50 per week / £26,132,886 per year
A generational talent with speed, flair, and star power. He’s not just a footballer — he’s a global brand with a matching paycheck.
7. Erling Haaland – £525,000.00 per week / £27,300,000 per year
A goal machine with strength, speed, and composure. One of the most marketable and productive forwards in modern football.
6. Robert Lewandowski – £536,005.58 per week / £27,872,290 per year
A living legend with a flawless goal record. Even in his 30s, he continues to justify a world-class salary.
5. Kalidou Koulibaly – £558,038.46 per week / £29,018,000 per year
An imposing defender with physical dominance and experience. His rock-solid consistency places him among the best-paid in his role.
4. Sadio Mané – £643,271.04 per week / £33,450,094 per year
A tireless attacker with pace, precision, and humility. His global impact and leadership are well rewarded.
3. Riyad Mahrez – £839,468.69 per week / £43,652,372 per year
A silky winger with a deadly left foot. His flair and big-game performances have earned him a massive wage increase.
2. Karim Benzema – £1,608,177.58 per week / £83,625,234 per year
A Ballon d’Or winner and one of the most complete forwards ever. His class, experience, and efficiency make him football royalty.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo – £3,216,355.15 per week / £167,250,468 per year
The most iconic name in football and the sport’s top earner. His global legacy and elite fitness continue to command record-breaking salaries.
