Egyptian superstar and Liverpool forward, Mohamed Salah, has cemented his place among the world’s wealthiest football players, securing the seventh spot in Forbes’ annual ranking of the highest-earning players for the 2025-2026 season. The list is once again topped by Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
According to the report by the prestigious American magazine, Ronaldo leads the rankings with a staggering total income of $280 million.
This colossal figure includes $230 million from his contract with Saudi club Al-Nassr and $50 million generated from endorsements and sponsorships, proving the Portuguese legend continues to dominate both on and off the pitch, even past the age of 40, Yallakora reported.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi ranks second with an estimated annual income of $130 million. He is followed by French striker Karim Benzema of Al-Ittihad, who took third place with $104 million.
France’s Kylian Mbappé occupies the fourth position, earning $95 million, placing him ahead of Manchester City’s Norwegian star, Erling Haaland, who came in fifth with $80 million.
Real Madrid winger, Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior, holds the sixth spot with an income of $60 million, followed immediately by Mohamed Salah at seventh with an annual income of $55 million, ensuring the Egyptian retains his presence among the global elite of highly-paid stars.
The ranking also features several rising young talents, most notably Real Madrid’s English midfielder Jude Bellingham($44 million) and Barcelona’s rising Spanish star Lamine Yamal ($43 million), signaling the escalating financial power of football’s new generation of global talent.
Forbes noted that the combined earnings of the world’s 10 highest-paid footballers this season amount to an astonishing $945 million, highlighting a clear dominance from Spanish league stars in representation, alongside a significant presence from players in the Saudi and English leagues.
