Footballers` earnings have always been a source of fascination, with the best players receiving jaw-dropping salaries and making tens of millions more from their heavy endorsement deals. Thanks to their rising fame, Europe’s football superstars, like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Neymar, have seen their bank balances skyrocket over the years, with annual records consistently broken. But the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo to Al-Nassr took the whole thing to a new level.
According to data presented by Casinos En Ligne, with $200 million in salary and bonuses, Cristiano Ronaldo earns more in a year than Kylian Mbappé, Mohamed Salah, and Erling Haaland combined.
Cristiano’s On-Pitch Earnings are Almost Twice as High as Mbappé’s and 3x Higher than Messi’s
The on and off-field rivalry between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi has driven a significant portion of the incredible football salaries growth, despite the duo edging closer to retirement. However, that all changed last month when it was announced that Ronaldo would be joining Al Nassr on a contract that made him the best-paid footballer in history.
According to Forbes data, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will make $200 million annually through his salary and bonuses, plus an additional $60 million from off-pitch earnings. Thanks to his heavy contract with the Saudi Arabian football club, Cristiano’s on-pitch payments are three times higher than those of his biggest rival, Lionel Messi. The 2022 World Cup winner makes $65 million through his salary and an additional $55 million from endorsement deals.
Statistics also show that Cristiano is paid almost twice as the new generation leader, Killian Mbappé, who makes $110 million in on-field earnings and another $18 million off the field. Despite frequently stating his desire to play for Real Madrid, Mbappé committed his future to Paris Saint-German in a deal that makes him the second highest-paid footballer globally.
Three out of the Five Best-Paid Footballers Play in Paris Saint-Germain
Next on the list of highest paid-footballers is Messi’s teammate Neymar who signed a contract extension with PSG in the summer of 2021. The Brazilian star, who has been among the highest-paid footballers for a decade, receives $55 million in annual salary and makes $32 million in off-pitch earnings.
Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland follow with $35 million in on-pitch earnings each. However, Salah makes almost five times more through endorsement deals than Manchester City’s superstar.
Analyzed by clubs, three out of the five highest-paid football stars earn their living in Paris Saint-German. The French club pays $230 million annually for Messi, Neymar, and Mbappé to play in their team.
