Overview
- Cristiano Ronaldo’s pre‑tax earnings are estimated at $280 million, including about $230 million in salary and $50 million from club‑linked commercial deals such as Nike, Binance and Herbalife.
- Lionel Messi’s total is pegged at $130 million, with roughly $60 million in salary and $70 million off the pitch through partners like Adidas, Lay’s and Mastercard plus ventures including MiM hotels, his Mas+ drink and a restaurant stake.
- Karim Benzema is third at $104 million, followed by Kylian Mbappé at $95 million and Erling Haaland at $80 million, with none of the top three playing club football in Europe.
- Forbes notes its rankings are pre‑tax estimates that combine salaries with endorsements and other commercial income, producing approximate rather than audited totals.
- The top 10 collectively earn $945 million, down 4% from last season, with newcomers Jude Bellingham and 18‑year‑old Lamine Yamal entering as Neymar’s tally drops to $38 million after his return to Santos.