Cristiano Ronaldo Tops Forbes' List of Highest-Paid Soccer Players

Cristiano Ronaldo tops Forbes' highest-paid soccer players list for 2025-2026, earning nearly $280 million from on and off-field activities. The Portuguese star leads three Saudi Pro League players in the top 10, highlighting how Saudi Arabia's massive investment in soccer talent is reshaping the sport's financial landscape.

This marks the sixth time in the past decade that Ronaldo has claimed the top spot on Forbes' list. The timing comes just over a week after Bloomberg announced that the 40-year-old became soccer's first billionaire. Playing for Saudi club Al Nassr, Ronaldo will earn more than double what his former rival Lionel Messi makes.

Messi sits in second place with $130 million in earnings, though most of his income comes from off-field deals rather than his salary with Inter Miami. The Argentine's relatively lower on-field earnings show how Major League Soccer still can't compete with the massive contracts being offered in Saudi Arabia.

French striker Karim Benzema takes third place, earning $104 million annually with Saudi champions Al Ittihad. His move to the Saudi Pro League last year paid off financially, securing him one of the most lucrative contracts in world soccer.

Senegalese forward Sadio Mané rounds out the Saudi representation at eighth place with approximately $54 million. Playing alongside Ronaldo at Al Nassr, Mané's earnings reflect the Saudi league's strategy of attracting top talent with substantial financial packages.

The Saudi Pro League actually lost one player from last year's top 10. Brazilian star Neymar left Al Hilal in January to return to his boyhood club Santos. He had ranked third last season with $110 million in earnings but now makes around $38 million, mostly from endorsement deals unrelated to Santos.

Despite the English Premier League's record-breaking summer spending of £2.6 billion ($3.5 billion) on transfers, only two Premier League players cracked the top 10. Manchester City's Erling Haaland sits fifth, while Liverpool's Mohamed Salah takes seventh place. This shows how even the world's wealthiest league struggles to match the individual salary packages offered in Saudi Arabia.

Spain's La Liga claims the most representation with four players in the top 10. Real Madrid contributes three: Kylian Mbappé in fourth place, Vinícius Jr. in sixth, and Jude Bellingham in ninth. Barcelona's young star Lamine Yamal completes the Spanish contingent at tenth place with $43 million in earnings.

The financial gap between leagues becomes clear when comparing total earnings. Forbes estimates the top 10 highest-paid players will collectively earn around $945 million during the 2025-2026 season. Saudi Arabia's aggressive recruitment strategy has clearly disrupted traditional soccer economics, forcing other leagues to reconsider their approach to player compensation.

This shift reflects broader geopolitical and economic trends. Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 initiative uses sports investment to diversify its economy and enhance its global image. But for players, the decision often comes down to simple math - the financial offers from Saudi clubs often dwarf what European teams can provide.

The list also highlights soccer's evolving commercial landscape. While traditional powerhouse leagues like the Premier League and La Liga still attract top talent, they're no longer the automatic destination for players seeking maximum earnings. This creates interesting dynamics for fans, broadcasters, and sponsors trying to follow star players across different markets and time zones.