Cristiano Ronaldo has once again claimed the top spot on the Forbes highest-paid footballers list for the 2025-26 season, solidifying his position as the wealthiest player in the game. The 40-year-old Al Nassr forward earned an estimated $280 million from both on- and off-field ventures, according to Forbes.
This marks the sixth time in the past decade that Ronaldo has led the ranking and comes just a week after Bloomberg reported that he had officially become football’s first billionaire. His financial success places him far ahead of long-time rival Lionel Messi, who ranks second with total earnings of $130 million, the majority of which comes from endorsements and sponsorships linked to his stint at Inter Miami.
How Do the Top Earners in Football Compare in 2025-26?
Karim Benzema, now playing for Al Ittihad, follows in third place with annual earnings of $104 million, while Ronaldo’s Al Nassr teammate Sadio Mane ranks eighth with $54 million. Both players continue to benefit from Saudi Arabia’s ongoing investment in global football talent.
However, the number of Saudi-based stars in the top ten has dropped compared to last year, after Neymar’s departure from Al Hilal. The Brazilian, who had been third in the 2024-25 list with $110 million, now earns around $38 million following his return to Santos in São Paulo.
Despite the Premier League’s enormous financial power and record-breaking £2.6 billion ($3.5 billion) transfer spending this past summer, only two of its players appear in the top ten: Manchester City’s Erling Haaland in fifth place and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in seventh.
Which League Dominates the Forbes Football Rich List?
Spain’s La Liga leads the way this season with four representatives. Real Madrid boasts three players in the top ten — Kylian Mbappe (fourth), Vinicius Jr (sixth), and Jude Bellingham (ninth) — while Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal closes the list in tenth with earnings of $43 million.
According to Forbes, “Combined, the world’s ten highest-paid soccer players are set to earn an estimated $945 million during the 2025-26 campaign.” This staggering figure highlights football’s enduring financial power and Ronaldo’s unmatched dominance in the sport’s economic landscape.
By Yockshard Enyendi
