The Top 7 Highest Paid Footballers in the World As Neymar Joins Al Hilal

The issue of money in football has consistently sparked controversy. Are players being compensated excessively compared to other professions that arguably hold greater significance in society?

The footballers themselves are not solely to blame - when presented with extravagant salaries, it is understandable for them to accept such offers as they have the right to maximise their earnings during their relatively brief careers.

However, with the surge in football's popularity in Saudi Arabia, the salaries we are currently observing have taken an uncontrollable upwards trajectory.

Sports Brief now answers the question: who currently stand as the highest-earning players in global football?

Liverpool player salaries: Find out the highest paid Liverpool player

Football

7. Jordan Henderson

Over the span of 12 remarkably triumphant years at Anfield, Henderson etched his name as a true Liverpool legend. Arriving from Sunderland for a fee of £16 million in 2011, the midfielder initially faced challenges adapting to life on Merseyside, per the BBC. However, in a move that raised eyebrows, he departed the club to join Saudi Arabia's Al-Ettifaq, under the leadership of Steven Gerrard, fetching a substantial annual sum of €40mil.

6. Lionel Messi

Messi is undoubtedly one of the most illustrious figures in football history. However, he doesn't hold the title of the highest-earning player globally. In truth, he falls quite a bit short of that mark. The Argentine takes a handsome €45mil annually in a contract layered with additional components: ownership shares in Inter Miami, a share of the revenue from the MLS Apple season pass, a revenue stake from Adidas, and a subsidised opportunity for partial ownership of a team in America's top flight. Considering these perks, this arrangement could go down in history as one of the most financially rewarding, even if his current base salary might not be the highest.

5. Kylian Mbappe

He is the sole player representing Europe on this roster - a reality that would have been difficult to fathom not too long ago. Sky Sports reported that Mbappe joined PSG in 2017 for a deal reportedly valued at €145mil, with an additional €35mil in potential add-ons. In 2023, he received a staggering offer of €300mil in annual salary - a sum that would have propelled him to the top of this list. However, he turned down this offer. Currently, Mbappe remains with PSG despite strong indications linking him to a potential move to Real Madrid in the foreseeable future.

4. N'golo Kante

Leicester secured Kante's services back in 2015 for a mere £5.6mil and after just a year, he joined Chelsea in a transfer valued at around six times that sum: £32mil. He secured his second consecutive Premier League title at Stamford Bridge, garnering the esteemed PFA Player of the Year award amidst another remarkable performance. During an illustrious span of seven seasons at Chelsea, Kante exhibited both exceptional on-field prowess and professionalism off the pitch, before his transition to Saudi's Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2023.

3. Neymar Junior

Had Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo not been in the picture, Neymar might have risen to claim the title of the world's best football player during a certain phase of his career. He gained prominence in his home country with Santos before Barcelona invested €57.1mil to acquire him in 2013. Subsequently, he secured the status of the costliest player in football history when PSG disbursed €222mil to bring him on board in 2017. In August 2023, he transferred to Al-Hilal and is set to earn a staggering €100mil annually.

2. Karim Benzema

Ending an astonishing 14-season journey with Real Madrid, during which he netted 354 goals, Benzema opted to conclude his tenure at the Santiago Bernabeu this year in favour of the lucrative opportunities presented by Saudi Arabia. Given that he's 35 years old, the French striker has obviously sought one last substantial compensation before his retirement and it is nothing short of remarkable - a remarkable €200mil yearly wage with Al-Ittihad.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo

Undoubtedly one of the most exceptional individuals to grace the sport, Ronaldo stood as the pioneer, being the initial prominent luminary to venture into Saudi Arabia, a path that later many others followed. Following an unsuccessful return to Manchester United, he embarked on an unprecedented journey to Saudi Arabia, aligning himself with Al-Nassr. Although his annual income of €200mil stands as one of the highest in football history, his foundational remuneration merely serves as the opening chapter in the narrative of his comprehensive earnings.

Al-Hilal confirms Neymar's transfer

Earlier, Sports Brief reported on Al-Hilal announcing the signing of Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain via a captivating video, as the forward concluded his six-season tenure with the French club.

The Brazilian star now joins the likes of reigning Ballon d'Or holder Benzema, two-time African Player of the Year Sadio Mane, and Kante, all of whom have followed in the footsteps of the icon - Ronaldo.