Biggest earners in football history

For better or worse, money and football are intertwined in the modern game. Teams with enough financial backing more often than not are able to achieve their end goals by acquiring the best players, the best coaches and building the best stadiums. As a result, the richest clubs tend to have the most success and usually part with enormous sums of money in order to achieve it. Inflated transfer fees and player wages are now commonplace with the market now flooded with unrealistic player valuations. Clubs have even started flirting with financial instability to remain competitive and close the ever widening gap. Moral quandaries and perceived unfair advantages aside, the phenomena has presented top players with far more leverage and bargaining power in contract negotiations than ever before. The best players in the world can now earn extraordinary wages for their services and while many fans feel uneasy about financial disparities and subsequent sustainability, that trend almost looks certain to continue. Here’s our look at some of the highest earners in the history of the beautiful game.

Lionel Messi

The Argentinian World Cup winner is arguably the greatest footballer to have ever lived and his salary reflects that moniker. The 36-year-old’s transfer to Inter Miami was the biggest acquisition in MLS history and has already paid dividends with the Florida outfit lifting their first silverware shortly after his arrival. Despite being the best paid player in MLS history with wages of \£42 million a year, the Barcelona legend did end up taking a pay cut from his salary at former employers PSG to head to Miami. He also turned down a number of very lucrative offers, including a ridiculous sum of money from the Saudi League to join up with former Real Madrid counterparts Karim Benzema and long term career rival Cristiano Ronaldo. While he has earned more during his spells in Catalonia and Paris, he is still set to earn millions in commercial deals in the States along with a very healthy base pay packet at Inter.

Kylian Mbappe

Before the Saudi League emerged as the new financial force in world football, the title of the biggest spenders belonged solely to Parisian outfit PSG. They were always in the conversation when big money moves were involved with a plethora of world class talent in their squad. One such talent was their star forward Mbappe. The French striker was the jewel in their crown and his importance to the team was made clear by his most recent deal with the club. After frequently suggesting his desire to move on from the French capital, the club offered the 24-year-old a record-breaking deal to ensure he remained on their books. Elements of the deal are understood to have given the forward some control of coaching appointments and player recruitment, but it also guaranteed the player a whopping £550 million from 2022 to 2025. At the time of putting pen to paper it was, unsurprisingly, the most lucrative contract in the history of the game. New online bookmakers have Mbappe at 11/1 to win the Champions League with PSG this year.

Karim Benzema

The French forward enjoyed tremendous success in his 14 years at the Bernabeu with Real Madrid but brought that long run to a close earlier this year after signing with Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad. The former Ballon d’Or winner earned a hefty sum while serving Los Blancos but it’s nothing compared to what he earns in the Middle East. His former teammate Ronaldo has the upper hand in terms of pay packets from the Saudis but his own wage is nothing to be scoffed at. The club are parting with £181 million a year for the 35-year-old’s services in a deal that not only makes him the second highest paid footballer in the world, but also demonstrates that Ronaldo’s fee is unlikely to be a one off occurrence.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Rounding off our list is the highest profile player in the world today. The Portuguese sensation is now over 20 years into his career and with no signs of stopping. With a remarkable goalscoring record and a career littered with major trophies, it comes as no surprise that Ronaldo is one of the best paid players in the history of the game as well as the current highest earner. After a less than amicable split from former club Manchester United where he became the highest-paid player in the history of the Premier League, he moved to the Saudi Pro League to make yet more history. His transfer to Al-Nassr was the first in a series of high-profile moves to the Middle East and is unlikely to be the last, especially with the Saudis setting a precedent such as this. The 38-year-old’s contract is rumoured to be worth $200 million a year that when tied in with endorsement deals will be bumped up to an astonishing $260 million a year. It’s a move that has prompted plenty of debate since but there’s no denying, it’s a money making deal for Ronaldo.