Top 7 Highest-Paid Soccer Players of 2024: Cristiano Ronaldo Reigns Supreme on Forbes List

Arguably the most marketable soccer player in history, Cristiano Ronaldo, was the highest-paid athlete of 2023. According to the data from Forbes, he made an eye-watering $260 million last year, leaving Lionel Messi ($135 million) in distant second.

The Portugal superstar has enjoyed an equally dominant 2024, once again claiming the top spot on Forbes’ list of the highest earners in soccer. Continue reading to discover his earning and check out which other players have made the list.

Let’s begin!

#7 Vinicius Jr. – $55 million

Real Madrid No. 7 Vinicius Jr. is one of the highest-paid soccer players in Spain, with his 2024 earnings hovering around $55 million. The jet-heeled Brazilian is on a mega $40 million contract at Madrid, running until June 30, 2027. Considering how big of an asset he has been for the club — contributed to 173 goals in 278 games, winning two Champions Leagues and three La Liga titles — he is likely to get an extension long before his deal runs out.

Vinicius Jr. has become a massively popular figure in South America and is set to earn $15 million from sponsorships and endorsements by the end of 2024. According to Forbes, the 24-year-old has 11 brand deals in the bag, including Nike, Pepsi, PlayStation, and Clear shampoo. The list will only get longer if he lifts the Ballon d’Or on October 28.

#6 Erling Haaland – $60 million

Manchester City sharpshooter Erling Haaland has captured sixth place, with Forbes estimating his 2024 earnings to be in the $60 million region. The Norwegian superstar has the biggest contract in England, with him pocketing $46 million in wages at the Etihad Stadium.

The investment has proven to be more than worthwhile for Man City, as he has turned them into an all-conquering machine. Since his move from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, Haaland has been smashing goals for fun, bagging 103 of them in just 110 games. His explosiveness helped Man City win the Treble in 2022-23 and a record fourth-consecutive Premier League title in 2023-24.

Haaland’s rise to superstardom has emphatically boosted his off-pitch earnings, with them now creeping up to $14 million. He has a solid 39 million followers on Instagram, where he plugs in sponsored posts from the likes of Bendit, Godfisk, and Clear Haircare. Haaland also has sponsorship deals with Nike, Midea, EA Sports, Red Bull, and TAG Heuer.

#5 Kylian Mbappe – $90 million

Posting earnings of $90 million, Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe has emerged as the highest-paid player in Europe. He is the only top soccer player on this list who switched teams over the summer transfer window, and that has clearly helped his cause.

Since he joined the club as a free agent, Real Madrid happily gave him a huge five-year contract and a lucrative signing bonus, totaling $70 million annualy. He has yet to fire on all cylinders for Madrid but his numbers are more than satisfactory, with the 25-year-old bagging eight goals and two assists in 13 games.

Mbappe, who boasts 122 million Instagram followers, will have raked in $20 million from off-pitch earnings by the end of the year. He has lucrative deals with footwear and apparel giants Nike, fashion legends Dior, and iconic watchmakers Hublot.

#4 Karim Benzema – $104 million

French superstar Karim Benzema will have taken home $104 million by the end of 2024, majorly thanks to his blockbuster contract with Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad. Benzema joined Al-Ittihad as a free agent last summer, penning a three-year deal worth a whopping $100 million per year. He unfortunately saw his debut season interrupted by injuries and could only score nine goals from 21 appearances. Benzema, however, has started the 2024-25 season a lot strongly, scoring eight goals in as many matches across competitions.

Benzema, who has 76.3 million followers on Instagram, has a steady source of off-field income as well. He serves as an ambassador for many top companies, including Adidas, EA Sports, and Hyundai.

#3 Neymar – $110 million

Brazilian superstar Neymar is in third place with estimated earnings of $110 million in 2024. A whopping $80 million of his total earnings comes from his Al-Hilal contract, which expires at the end of the season.

After playing five games in the 2023-24 season, Neymar tore his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), with doctors ruling him out for the remainder of the season. He returned to the pitch in the AFC Champions League Elite on October 21, playing a 13-minute cameo in a 4-3 win over Al-Ain. Al-Hilal clearly have not received the return they expected from Neymar, so it is unclear whether they will opt for a renewal.

While his soccer career is uncertain, Neymar still has a lot more going for him off the pitch, with him earning $20 million from outside endeavors. He has over 225 million followers on Instagram and rakes in millions from pushing promotional content from Saudi perfumer Ibrahim Al-Qurashi, Puma, and Blaze Casino.

#2 Lionel Messi – $135 million

In a distant second, we have Inter Miami and Argentina superstar Lionel Messi, who will have pocketed $135 million from on and off-field earnings by the end of 2024. Messi is reportedly on a $60 million per year deal at Inter Miami, including add-ons, with the remaining $75 million coming from endorsements and other avenues.

Messi is in the final year of his contract at Inter Miami, but there is a one-year option in his contract. He has been in absolutely devastating form in the United States, scoring 33 times and claiming 17 assists in 36 games across competitions. His heroics have helped Miami to one Supporters’ Shield and one Leagues Cup, and there is hope that he will take the Herons to MLS Cup glory as well. Since Messi is enjoying himself at Inter Miami, he is likely to stick around for at least one more year.

Coming to off-field profits, Messi has lucrative deals with Apple TV, Konami, and Adidas, whereas his massive 500 million+ Instagram following ensures massive payouts from sponsored videos. In September, he also launched his production house 525 Rosario — named after his birthplace and family home address — which is guaranteed to boost his bank balance.

#1 Cristiano Ronaldo – $285 million

Cristiano Ronaldo, who has amassed over 965 million followers across Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and, now, YouTube, is the world’s highest-paid soccer player. The Al-Nassr star’s on-field earnings stand at a whopping $220 million, while he is set to make $65 million more from his endorsements and business ventures.

Ronaldo sees his Al-Nassr contract expire at the end of the 2024-25 season. However, considering how well he has played — 67 goals and 18 assists in 75 games — and the level of visibility he has brought to Saudi Arabia, Al-Nassr is unlikely to let the Portugal icon leave as a free agent.

The former Real Madrid superstar has also quite an expansive endorsement and business portfolio. Ronaldo is one of the brand ambassadors of Nike and Herbalife; and has an equity stake in health wearable tracker Whoop. To top it off, Ronaldo has CR-branded 7-star hotels, underwear, and fragrances, which generate millions in revenue each year.