Sports

The 10 highest-paid footballers in the world in 2023

Published

3 years ago

August 17, 2023

Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema

The 10 highest-paid footballers in the world in 2023

Professional football is a lucrative business in 2023 and the 10 highest-paid players on the planet are raking in huge sums both in wages and sponsorship deals.

Footballers’ salaries at the very top end of the game have risen exponentially in recent years, especially following the entrance onto the scene of huge multinationals, oligarchs and oil states as club owners.

The emergence of the Saudi Pro League has also had a huge impact on the top earners in the game. Amazingly so, eight of the top 10 earners in football are currently playing in Saudi Arabia.

Here, we look at the top 10 highest-earning football stars on the planet in 2023, based on their annual salary, with figures from French newspaper Le Parisien.

10. Kalidou Koulibaly – €30m (€577,000 per week)

The Senegal international had a rough first season in the Premier League and only lasted one year in England before departing for a fresh challenge elsewhere.

He was already on a lucrative wage at Chelsea, but Al-Hilal took this to a whole new level. Being paid a whopping €577,000 per week, Koulibaly is now the highest-paid defender in the world.

9. Riyad Mahrez – €35m (€673,000 per week)

The Premier League won’t quite be the same without the Algerian winger. You can hardly blame him for making the move to Saudi though considering he will now be earning more than any of his former teammates.

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Mahrez will be a star in Saudi for Al-Ahli and we wouldn’t be surprised to see him putting up some ridiculous numbers in terms of goals and assists.

=7. Jordan Henderson – €40m (€769,000 per week)

The former Liverpool captain became the highest-paid English player in the world when he completed his move to Al-Ettifaq. He now singlehandedly earns more than this ridiculously talented XI.

=7. Sadio Mane – €40m (€769,000 per week)

For whatever reason, things just never clicked for Mane at Bayern Munich. Liverpool fans were devastated to lose him at the time, but the Senegalese forward hasn’t quite been the same since leaving Anfield.

He only lasted one year at the Allianz Arena before Saudi clubs came knocking. In the end, Al Nassr won the race to secure his signature and he will be paid a handsome €769,000 per week for his services.

“I don’t know what went wrong [at Bayern],” Jurgen Klopp told reporters.

6. Lionel Messi – €45m (€865,000 per week)

It’s quite remarkable that Messi turned down an offer worth over €1billion to join the Saudi Pro League, but in the end, MLS was a more appealing project for the 36-year-old.

“I want to get back to enjoy myself, to enjoy my family, my children, the day-to-day,” Messi told reporters upon his signing for Inter Miami.

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As you would expect, Messi is absolutely walking it in the United States. Now reunited with Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, we’ve not seen Messi this happy at club level for a long time.

5. Kylian Mbappe – €70m (€1,346,000 per week)

Given the stranglehold European football has had on football for the last several decades, it’s quite remarkable that Mbappe is now the only player in Europe who now makes it into the top 10 earners.

His long-term future at PSG is still in doubt, although he has recently been reintegrated into first team training after a spell with the bomb squad.

Transfer links to Real Madrid remain rife, with plenty believing he will join the Spanish club on a free transfer next summer upon his deal at PSG expiring. Watch this space.

=3. Neymar – €100m (€1,923,000 per week)

Champions League nights just won’t hit the same without Neymar. The Brazilian superstar recently made the jump to Al Hilal and is now earning even more than he was pocketing at PSG.

According to multiple sources, as part of his contract with Al Hilal Neymar will also get access to a private jet, an €80,000 win bonus, a huge mansion with staff and €500,000 for every Instagram post which promotes Saudi Arabia. Some crazy sums of money.

=3. N’Golo Kante – €100m (€1,923,000 per week)

The French midfielder now ranks as one of the highest earners in the world and he’s wasted no time in splashing some of his cash. Kante has used his new riches to purchase Belgian third-tier side Royal Excelsior Virton.

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“Flavio [the previous chairman] is obviously extremely happy to be able to hand over the keys of the club to N’Golo Kante, a high-class player, not only for his footballing qualities but also and above all for his unanimously recognised human qualities,” Royal Excelsior said in a club statement

“Driven by his passion for football, the will of N’Golo Kante is to continue the structuring of the club in order to consolidate its foundations, stabilise the staff and eventually reconnect with the tradition of training RE Virton, via its Youth Academy.”

=1. Karim Benzema – €200m (€3,846,000 per week)

Having won everything on offer with Real Madrid, Benzema decided it was time for a fresh challenge this summer. The 35-year-old is now the joint-highest earner in the world, earning a ridiculous €3,846,000 per week playing for Al-Ittihad.

The French forward has adapted well to life in Saudi so far, scoring three goals in his first five matches for his new side. We’re sure he’ll deliver plenty of memorable moments for Al-Ittihad fans in the next few years to come.

=1. Cristiano Ronaldo – €200m (€3,846,000 per week)

Yeah, this is ridiculous. Still, both Ronaldo and Al Nassr seem happy enough with this arrangement.

Source: Planet Football

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Lamine Yamal Fires Back: “Mocking Religion Makes You Ignorant, Racist”

Published

11 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Trends Admin

Lamine Yamal

Lamine Yamal Fires Back: “Mocking Religion Makes You Ignorant, Racist”

Lamine Yamal has sparked widespread conversation after condemning the act of mocking religion, describing it as both ignorant and racist.

The FC Barcelona youngster issued the strong warning while reacting to offensive remarks targeting his beliefs, stressing that respect for religion and cultural differences should never be compromised.

According to Yamal, ridiculing someone’s faith goes beyond humor or free speech, and instead reflects a deeper problem of intolerance and lack of understanding in society.

He said acts of religious mockery contribute to division and hostility, especially in a world where diversity continues to grow across communities, sports, and online spaces.

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The teenage football star urged fans and social media users to embrace tolerance, respect, and inclusivity, rather than spreading hate or engaging in abusive behavior.

His comments come amid rising concerns over online abuse in football, where players increasingly face attacks related to race, religion, and personal identity.

Yamal’s stance has drawn praise from supporters and observers who see his response as a bold step in addressing racism in sports and promoting unity among fans worldwide.

As conversations around freedom of expression vs hate speech continue globally, the young star’s message highlights the importance of mutual respect in maintaining harmony both on and off the pitch.

Lamine Yamal Fires Back: “Mocking Religion Makes You Ignorant, Racist”

Sports

FIFA Confirms Iran Will Play 2026 World Cup Matches in United States

Published

18 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Trends Admin

FIFA President Gianni Infantino

FIFA Confirms Iran Will Play 2026 World Cup Matches in United States

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that the Iran national football team will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and play its group stage matches in the United States as originally scheduled, dismissing doubts raised amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Infantino made the announcement on Tuesday during Iran’s friendly against Costa Rica in Antalya, Turkey, saying, “Iran will be at the World Cup. The matches will be played where they are supposed to be, according to the draw.” He stressed that there is no alternative plan to relocate the games, affirming FIFA’s commitment to keeping the tournament on course.

Iran had previously announced it was negotiating with FIFA to move its matches from the United States to Mexico due to security concerns linked to the ongoing US-Israeli-Iran conflict. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had expressed willingness to host the games if necessary, but FIFA confirmed all three fixtures will remain in the U.S., ensuring compliance with the official tournament draw.

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The Iranian squad is drawn in Group G, alongside New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt. Their matches are scheduled as follows:

Iran vs New Zealand – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, June 15, 2026
Iran vs Belgium – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, June 21, 2026
Iran vs Egypt – Lumen Field, Seattle, June 26, 2026

Infantino, who attended the friendly match in Turkey, praised the Iranian team as “very, very strong” and confirmed that players and coaches are well-prepared for the tournament. He highlighted FIFA’s principle that all qualified teams must compete according to the official schedule, unaffected by political disputes.

Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, Vice President of the Iran Football Federation (FFIRI), affirmed Iran’s commitment to FIFA’s regulations, stating: “Every host country has made commitments to FIFA and must honor them.” He said the meeting with Infantino during the friendly gave the team reassurance and a morale boost ahead of the World Cup.

Earlier, some Iranian officials, including Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali, had expressed concerns over participation due to safety issues. There were even suggestions that the country might withdraw, but FIFA’s firm stance ensures Iran will compete on U.S. soil as planned.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, featuring 48 teams across multiple North American cities. Iran’s participation guarantees that Group G matches will proceed as drawn, offering fans clarity and ensuring the integrity of the tournament.

FIFA Confirms Iran Will Play 2026 World Cup Matches in United States

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Osimhen Among Highest-Paid African Footballers in 2026 — See Full List

Published

2 days ago

March 31, 2026

Trends Admin

Osimhen Among Highest-Paid African Footballers in 2026 — See Full List

The highest-paid African footballers in 2026 continue to earn staggering wages, with stars in the Saudi Pro League dominating the rankings due to lucrative contracts. From Riyad Mahrez to Mohamed Salah, African players remain among the top earners in global football, earning hundreds of thousands of pounds weekly.

Leading the list is Riyad Mahrez, who earns an estimated £827,000–£886,000 per week at Al-Ahli, making him the highest-paid African footballer. He is followed by Sadio Mané, who earns around £630,000–£680,000 weekly at Al-Nassr.

Defender Kalidou Koulibaly earns about £550,000–£590,000 weekly at Al-Hilal, making him the highest-paid African defender. In Europe, Mohamed Salah continues to command massive wages of £350,000–£400,000 per week at Liverpool FC.

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Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen earns between £250,000–£318,000 weekly at Galatasaray, making him one of the highest-paid Nigerian footballers.

Midfielder Franck Kessié and defender Achraf Hakimi both earn just over £220,000 per week, playing for Al-Ahli and Paris Saint-Germain respectively.

Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy earns up to £200,000 weekly, while Iñaki Williams takes home about £180,000 per week at Athletic Bilbao. Veteran striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang completes the list with weekly earnings of £150,000–£160,000 at Al-Qadsiah.

Top 10 Highest-Paid African Footballers (2026) – Weekly Salaries

Rank	Player	Club	Weekly Salary
1	Riyad Mahrez	Al-Ahli	£827,000 – £886,000
2	Sadio Mané	Al-Nassr	£630,000 – £680,000
3	Kalidou Koulibaly	Al-Hilal	£550,000 – £590,000
4	Mohamed Salah	Liverpool FC	£350,000 – £400,000
5	Victor Osimhen	Galatasaray	£250,000 – £318,000
6	Franck Kessié	Al-Ahli	£220,000 – £233,000
7	Achraf Hakimi	Paris Saint-Germain	£220,000 – £227,000
8	Edouard Mendy	Al-Ahli	£170,000 – £200,000
9	Iñaki Williams	Athletic Bilbao	~£180,000
10	Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang	Al-Qadsiah	£150,000 – £160,000

The rankings underline the growing dominance of the Saudi Pro League, which now offers significantly higher wages than most European leagues, attracting top African talent. Only a few players, such as Mohamed Salah and Achraf Hakimi, remain among the top earners in Europe.