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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Yeah, this is ridiculous. Still, both Ronaldo and Al Nassr seem happy enough with this arrangement.
Source: Planet Football
How much is Mike Tyson, Jake Paul getting paid for the fight?
Jake Paul, a former child star and social media influencer who began his professional boxing career in 2020, on Saturday secured a victory against former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in a boxing bout.
The fight was livestreamed worldwide on Netflix, and Paul won by unanimous decision.
While the outcome surprised some, the financial stakes were just as intense as the match itself, with both fighters set to earn huge sums for their efforts.
Mike Tyson, widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers in history, is 58 years old and has an estimated net worth of $10 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
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While this figure is modest compared to the hundreds of millions Tyson earned during his career, including $400 million in fight purses according to Forbes, he’s also made a remarkable comeback after declaring bankruptcy in 2013 at age 37.
Although promoters did not disclose Tyson’s exact earnings from the fight, reports from sources like DraftKings Network estimate he will earn around $20 million.
This figure is comparable to the amount Tyson earned for his 1988 match against Michael Spinks, which had a record purse at the time (worth approximately $53 million today when adjusted for inflation). That fight ended in just 91 seconds, with Tyson knocking out the previously undefeated Spinks.
Jake Paul, 27, is expected to earn approximately $40 million, according to estimates from DraftKings Network and other sources. This is double the amount Tyson is projected to make. One reason for this disparity may be Paul’s status as a top social media influencer, with 27 million followers on Instagram alone. Additionally, Paul is the co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), the company promoting the fight in partnership with Netflix.
Paul’s net worth is estimated at $80 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
I don’t think so – Mike Tyson on boxing retirement after loss to Paul
After his defeat to Jake Paul, 58-year-old boxing legend Mike Tyson indicated that he has no immediate plans to retire
This is just as he had praises for Paul who he stood toe-to-toe with till the final round and ultimately lost to by a unanimous decision.
“I’m really happy. He was a good fighter and well prepared,” Mike Tyson said. “I didn’t prove anything to anyone. Just to myself.”
Asked on a knee brace that he wore for the fight, Tyson said: “I can’t use that as an excuse or wouldn’t have been in there.”
Asked if this was the end for Tyson in the ring, he concluded: “I don’t think so.”
Mike Tyson’s controversial return to boxing ended in a one-sided defeat on Friday, with Youtuber-turned-prizefighter Jake Paul cruising to victory by unanimous decision against the heavyweight icon in Texas.
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Tyson, 58, barely landed a punch during the eight-round bout at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, with Paul winning by big margins on all three cards — 80-72, 79-73 and 79-73.
Paul, 27, used his superior speed and movement to dominate the ageing Tyson with ease, and had the former undisputed heavyweight champion in trouble after landing a flurry of punches in the third round.
Super Eagles seal AFCON 2025 spot, draw 1-1 against Benin
Victor Osimhen’s late header helped the Super Eagles of Nigeria secure a 1-1 draw against Benin Republic in Abidjan, clinching their qualification for the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Benin, playing their matches in Côte d’Ivoire, took an early lead in the 16th minute when Mohammed Tijani headed in a short corner.
The goal followed a period of sustained pressure from the Beninoise side on the Nigerian defence.
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Benin nearly doubled their advantage shortly afterwards, but goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali made a crucial save to keep Nigeria in the game.
Osimhen threatened as the first half progressed, with a powerful header that narrowly missed the target.
In the second half, Benin came close again, but a shot veered inches wide of the right post, sparing the Eagles further trouble.
With nine minutes remaining, Osimhen rose to the occasion, connecting with a precise cross from Moses Simon to level the score at 1-1.
With this result, the Super Eagles top Group D with 11 points from five matches, while Benin hold second place with seven points.
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