Who is the richest soccer player in the world in 2024? If you are a football lover then you would definitely want to know how much your favorite players earn. According to Forbes, Cristiano Ronaldo earns the most in a year with a salary and bonus of $120 million, followed by Lionel Messi with $135 million. Check out our list of the top 10 richest Soccer Players in the world here.
Note: This list is based on the earnings of Soccer Players in 2023-24 only.
Harry Kane is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and is the captain of the England national team. A prolific goalscorer with strong link play, Harry Kane is regarded as one of the best players in the world and one of the best strikers of his generation.
With earnings of $39 million, he is one of the richest soccer players in the world in 2024. He is both Tottenham Hotspur and England’s all-time highest goalscorer, as well as the second-highest goalscorer in the Premier League.
In 2023, Kane became the most expensive signing in Bundesliga history, worth €110 million, as he signed for Bayern Munich. In his debut season he scored 36 goals in the Bundesliga, winning his first European Golden Shoe award.
Kevin De Bruyne is a prominent Belgian football player known for his creativity, passing skills, game-reading ability, and his contributions in the midfield. With earnings of $39 million, he is the ninth richest soccer player in the world in 2024.
Despite having signed with Roc Nation, De Bruyne and his father led the negotiations that led to his latest contract with Manchester City, with help from data firm Analytics FC in the process.
De Bruyne has spent the bulk of his club career playing with FC Genk, Chelsea, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and later Manchester City. He is a vital midfielder and is known as a creative spark among players.
De Bruyne’s playing style includes his creativity, passing skills, reading of the game, and goal-scoring ability. His passing ability and game thinking make him one of the best midfield players.
08. Sadio Mané: $52 million
Earnings: $52 million in a year
Date of Birth: 10 April 1992
Team: Al Nassr
Nationality: Senegal
Sadio Mane is a Senegalese professional footballer who plays as a forward or winger for Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr and the Senegal national team. Known for his pressing, dribbling, and pace, Mane is regarded by some sources as one of the greatest African players of all time.
Mane moved to English club Southampton for a club record fee of £11.8 million. There, he set a new Premier League record for the fastest hat-trick, scoring in 176 seconds in a 6–1 win over Aston Villa in 2015. With earnings of $52 million, he is the eight richest soccer player in the world in 2024.
Mane signed for fellow Premier League club Liverpool in 2016 for a reported fee of £34 million, making him the most expensive African player in history at the time. He helped the team reach consecutive UEFA Champions League finals in 2018 and 2019, the latter of which they won.
07. Mohamed Salah: $53 million
Mohamed Salah
Earnings: $53 million in a year
Date of Birth: June 15, 1992
Team: Liverpool
Nationality: Egypt
Mohamed Salah is a prominent Egyptian soccer player, known for his speed, technical proficiency, goalscoring ability and his commitment. He is one of the richest soccer players in the world in 2024
After an impressive campaign that nearly cost Liverpool the Premier League title on the last day of the season, Salah was named England’s Men’s Footballer of the Year and Playmaker of the Season, and also received the league’s Golden Boot award.
Salah’s real breakthrough came with Liverpool in the Premier League, where he showcased his speed, dribbling and goal scoring ability. In July, he signed a three-year extension to stay with Liverpool until 2025, and he remains one of Adidas’ biggest global stars.
Salah’s specialty is his fast running ability and he displays his technical skills while dribbling. He holds several goalscoring records and is regarded as one of the world-class players.
06. Erling Haaland: $58 million
Earnings: $58 million in a year
Date of Birth: July 21, 2000
Team: Manchester City
Nationality: Norway
Erling Haaland is a prominent soccer player from Norway, known for his powerful goal scoring ability, physical substitution, and the performances he has shown at a young age. With an annual income of $58 million, he is the sixth richest soccer player in the world in 2024.
Forbes estimates that Haaland earns $4 million annually through endorsements from sponsors such as Hyperice, Samsung, and Viaplay, but this number is skyrocketing.
Haaland got real recognition when he started playing for FA German club Red Bull Salzburg in the year 2019. He scored three goals in his debut match and since then his performance started attracting people’s attention.
Haaland’s playing style is characterized by his powerful goal scoring ability, forward ability, powerful shooting, and physical substitution. He has broken several goal scoring records in his short career and is considered a world-class forward.
Karim Mustapha Benzema is a French professional soccer player who plays as a striker for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad. Considered one of the best strikers of all time, he is a creative forward known for his technical skills, vision, and versatility on the field.
Benzema is Real Madrid’s second-highest goalscorer and top assist provider of all time. He won 25 trophies with Real Madrid, including four La Liga, three Copa del Rey, and five UEFA Champions League titles. He has scored over 500 career goals for club and country.
Benzema began his career with hometown club Lyon in 2005. In 2009, Benzema was the subject of a then French record football transfer when he joined Real Madrid in a €35 million deal. He is the fifth richest soccer player in the world, with earnings of $106 million in a year.
04. Kylian Mbappé: $110 million
Kylian Mbappe
Earnings: $110 million in a year
Date of Birth: December 20, 1998
Team: Paris Saint-Germain
Nationality: French
Kylian Mbappe, the 4th richest football player in the world, is a professional footballer who is widely known for his exceptional speed, skill, and goal-scoring ability.
Having won three of the last four Ligue 1 Player of the Year awards, Mbappe has established himself as the face of French football. He is the fourth richest soccer player in the world, with earnings of $110 million in a year.
Mbappe made his professional debut with A.S. in December 2015. He also made his debut for Monaco’s senior team, making him the youngest player to play for the club in Ligue 1.
His breakout season was in 2016-2017, when he played a key role in helping Monaco win the Ligue 1 title and reach a deep run of the UEFA Champions League.
03. Neymar Jr: $112 million
Neymar, JR
Earnings: $112 million in a year
Date of Birth: February 5, 1992
Team: Al Hilal
Nationality: Brazil
Neymar Jr. is a prominent Brazilian footballer known for his dribbling skills, technical prowess, goal-scoring ability, and his aggressive playing style. He is one of the richest soccer players in the world, earning the most money in a single year at $112 million.
Neymar made history by signing a record $263 million transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017. In May 2021, he again extended his transfer to 2025, and he helped persuade Messi to join him later that year.
Neymar attracted attention with his strong performances while playing with Santos. He demonstrated his abilities around the world while playing with Barcelona, making him one of the higher profile club players.
Neymar’s playing style is based on his technical proficiency, dribbling, speed, and goal-scoring ability. His dribbling is particularly effective and he has the ability to draw players towards him and lead them towards goal.
02. Lionel Messi: $135 million
Image by Skysports
Earnings: $135 million in a year
Date of Birth: June 24, 1987
Team: Inter Miami
Nationality: Argentinian
Lionel Messi is a leading Argentine football player widely known for his iconic status, skill and goal scoring ability. With earnings of $135 million, he is the second richest soccer player in the world in 2024 by forbes.
Messi already earns a lot off the field, but industry experts suggest that figure could increase by 20% if he leads Argentina to a World Cup win in November.
Messi began his professional career with Barcelona and became a member of a unique local club. He has won countless titles and awards with Barcelona.
Messi’s professional career has earned him special recognition for his unparalleled skill, goal scoring ability and immense power. He has won numerous collective and individual awards and set numerous records, most notably Barcelona’s all-time goals and assists records.
Cristiano Ronaldo is a prominent football (soccer) player, known for his high goal scoring ability, dedication and commitment to the game. He is one of the richest soccer players in the world, earning an estimated $260 million in a single year.
Despite his lack of playing time, Ronaldo is the world’s highest-paid footballer off the field, thanks to partnerships such as Nike, Herbalife and LiveScore.
Ronaldo’s playing style is known for his exceptional goal scoring ability, speed, powerful shooting, sharp dribbling and his advanced memory. He has risen to the pinnacle of football primarily through his attacking instincts and dedication.
Ronaldo rose to fame while playing with Manchester United, where he established himself as one of the best players in European club football. He has won countless titles and awards with Manchester United.
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