The 12 Most Lucrative Contracts in Football History – Ranked From Lowest to Highest

May 23, 2025 Rasmus Kristensen

Modern football has become a financial juggernaut, with clubs offering eye-watering deals to keep or attract the world’s best players. From record-breaking wages to long-term commitments, these are the 12 most lucrative contracts the game has ever seen.

12. Paul Pogba – £95.4 million

When Manchester United brought Paul Pogba back from Juventus in 2016, they handed him a massive deal worth nearly £100 million. Injuries, off-field drama, and inconsistency made it a disappointing return to Old Trafford.

11. Gareth Bale – £150.2 million

Real Madrid gave Gareth Bale a huge extension in 2016 after his early success, but the relationship soured as injuries piled up. Despite his brilliance in big moments, including the 2018 Champions League final, the contract drew heavy criticism.

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10. Cristiano Ronaldo – £185.7 million

Juventus signed Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018 hoping he would finally deliver a Champions League title. While he scored plenty, the club never reached their European goal—and the financial strain of his contract lingered.

9. Cristiano Ronaldo – £185.7 million

Before heading to Italy, Ronaldo signed a similarly massive deal with Real Madrid in 2016. At the height of his powers, he helped the club to three consecutive Champions League titles before leaving early for Juventus.

8. Neymar – £233 million

Paris Saint-Germain made Neymar the world’s most expensive player in 2017—and gave him a contract to match. Though he dazzled in moments, persistent injuries and a lack of Champions League success clouded his legacy in Paris.

7. Kylian Mbappé – £258.3 million

In 2024, Real Madrid finally secured Kylian Mbappé after years of pursuit, offering a five-year deal worth over £250 million. But his early form has been underwhelming, and fans are still waiting for his breakout moment in Madrid.

6. Neymar – £276 million

Neymar’s 2023 move to Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia was another mega-deal, but it quickly turned into a disaster. He tore his ACL shortly after arriving and has barely featured since—making it one of the least fruitful contracts on the list.

5. Kylian Mbappé – £354.6 million

PSG pulled out all the stops to keep Mbappé in 2022, handing him one of the most lucrative short-term contracts ever. The deal gave him enormous influence and an astronomical wage, but he still left two years later.

4. Erling Haaland – £370.6 million

In 2025, Manchester City signed Erling Haaland to a nine-and-a-half-year deal—an unprecedented commitment worth over £370 million. City clearly see him as the long-term face of the club, both on and off the pitch.

3. Cristiano Ronaldo – £428 million

Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2023 contract with Al-Nassr made headlines as the biggest payday in football at the time. While titles have eluded him in Saudi Arabia, his move helped transform the league’s global profile.

2. Karim Benzema – £451.6 million

After leaving Real Madrid in 2023, Karim Benzema joined Al-Ittihad on a three-year contract worth nearly half a billion pounds. But tension with fans and limited impact have made the deal more infamous than iconic.

1. Lionel Messi – £464.3 million

Barcelona gave Lionel Messi the most valuable contract in football history from 2017 to 2021. Though he remained the club’s heart and soul, the financial burden of the deal was catastrophic and helped plunge Barça into crisis.