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Cristiano Ronaldo has retained his position as the world’s highest-paid footballer by weekly base salary, while Lionel Messi has dropped to 13th in the latest global earnings rankings.
According to salary figures compiled by Capology and cited by Planet Football, Ronaldo earns an estimated £3.42 million per week at Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr.
The Portuguese captain remains comfortably ahead of Al-Ittihad striker Karim Benzema, who reportedly earns £2.01 million per week.
The latest rankings also highlight the growing financial influence of Saudi Arabian football, with six Saudi Pro League players featuring among the world’s 15 highest-paid footballers.
The report stated: “Cristiano Ronaldo still ranks as the highest-paid player in the Saudi Pro League and world football, earning a whopping £3.4 million per week with Al-Nassr.”
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is the Premier League’s highest-paid player on £525,000 per week.
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé occupies sixth place globally with a reported weekly salary of £512,992.
Vinícius Júnior and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane are joint ninth, each earning £410,393 per week.
Messi, who was absent from the previous edition of the rankings, returned to the list following his move to Inter Miami.
The Argentine captain reportedly earns £360,876 per week, placing him 13th on the global salary table.
Jamal Musiala, Darwin Núñez, Virgil van Dijk and Rúben Neves also feature among the world’s highest-paid players.
The figures are based on estimated weekly base salaries and exclude performance bonuses, signing-on fees, image rights agreements and commercial endorsement income.
Top 15 highest-paid footballers by weekly base salary
Cristiano Ronaldo — £3,421,039
Karim Benzema — £2,010,107
Sadio Mané — £656,629
Kalidou Koulibaly — £569,626
Erling Haaland — £525,000
Kylian Mbappé — £512,992
Sergej Milinković-Savić — £418,765
Ivan Toney — £418,765
Vinícius Júnior — £410,393
Harry Kane — £410,393
Jamal Musiala — £374,771
Darwin Núñez — £368,533
Lionel Messi — £360,876
Virgil van Dijk — £350,000
Rúben Neves — £343,417
Ronaldo’s lead at the top of the table reinforces Saudi Arabia’s continued influence in football’s salary landscape, while Messi’s position reflects a significant shift from the era when the two icons regularly dominated global wage rankings side by side.
