Football’s billion-dollar ballers: Ronaldo still reigns as youth rises

Football’s billion-dollar ballers: Ronaldo still reigns as youth rises

From Al-Nassr to La Masia, Forbes’ 2025 earnings list captures a sport where legacy and youth collide.

In football, greatness used to be measured in goals. Now, it’s counted in millions.

Forbes’ 2025 ranking of the world’s highest-paid footballers reveals a sport at the peak of its financial evolution — a global spectacle where longevity meets lightning-fast youth, and every strike is a stock investment.

At the top, Cristiano Ronaldo continues his reign at age 40, pocketing a jaw-dropping $275 million. His Saudi club, Al-Nassr, pays $225 million of that sum, with another $50 million flowing in from lifelong deals with Nike, Herbalife, and his vast CR7 empire spanning hotels, fragrances, and gyms.
Still football’s first billionaire, Ronaldo is proving that influence — not age — drives value.

Hot on his heels, Lionel Messi has turned his Inter Miami adventure into gold. The Argentine maestro earned $130 million this year — half from salary and half from a commercial portfolio that includes Apple TV, Adidas, and his personal energy drink line. His $60 million MLS broadcast deal alone outpaces many clubs’ transfer budgets.

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Behind them, a new generation is cashing in. Kylian Mbappé’s long-awaited move to Real Madrid came with a $70 million signing bonus, helping him to $95 million in annual earnings. Erling Haaland, the “goal machine” of Manchester City, follows with $80 million, while Neymar’s $75 million Saudi stint keeps him among football’s financial elite despite a year marred by injuries.

Karim Benzema ($70M), Vinícius Júnior ($60M), and Mohamed Salah ($55M) round out the middle order, blending consistency with global brand power. Robert Lewandowski ($50M) continues to defy age in Barcelona, while the story of the year belongs to Lamine Yamal — the 18-year-old Barcelona prodigy who storms into the top 10 with $43 million.

Yamal’s inclusion signals a changing of the guard: the game’s future belongs to players who are not just skilled, but marketable from the moment they lace their boots.

Collectively, the top 10 earned more than $1 billion in 2025, including $250 million from endorsements and business ventures. It’s proof that football’s global economy — powered by Saudi money, American media, and European prestige — has never been richer.

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FORBES’ TOP 10 HIGHEST-EARNING FOOTBALLERS, 2025

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr) – $275M
2. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) – $130M
3. Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) – $95M
4. Erling Haaland (Manchester City) – $80M
5. Neymar (Al-Hilal) – $75M
6. Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad) – $70M
7. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – $60M
8. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – $55M
9. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) – $50M
10. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) – $43M

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THE FINAL WHISTLE

Ronaldo’s millions tell one story — of endurance. Yamal’s millions tell another — of evolution.
Between them lies the tale of modern football: a game where fame fuels fortune, and the scoreboard now flashes in dollars as much as goals.

Football’s billion-dollar ballers: Ronaldo still reigns as youth rises