Forbes has unveiled its 2025 rankings of the world’s top-earning athletes, with footballers once again dominating the list. From internationally recognized legends to stars backed by Saudi wealth, eight footballers secured a spot among the highest earners.
Joining them are major figures from other sports, including NBA standout Steph Curry, boxing champion Tyson Fury, NFL quarterback Dak Prescott, and professional golfer Jon Rahm.
What stands out this year is the changing financial landscape—Saudi Arabian clubs are rapidly narrowing the gap with European teams by offering salaries that even surpass those in the Premier League. Here’s a closer look at the highest-paid football players in the world.
1 Cristiano Ronaldo – £217.25 million
2 Lionel Messi – £106.65 million
3 Karim Benzema – £82.16 million
4 Kylian Mbappe – £71.10 million
5 Neymar – £60.04 million
6 Erling Haaland – £48.98 million
7 Vinicius Junior – £43.45 million
8 Sadio Mane – £42.66 million
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