Professional football has been involving big money for a while. Club owners are ready to pay millions to buy the best players. Once Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries have shown interest in the sport, the salaries have truly spiralled out of control.
It now seems unbelievable how much money footballers are actually earning in the top leagues, widely covered by GGBet and other top bookmakers. With that in mind, who is going to get the most money by the end of 2025? Let’s see these names.
10. Marcelo Brozović ($25 million/year)
Marcelo Brozović is a defensive midfielder playing for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. His consistent performance earned him a great reputation among managers and other players. Brozović has excellent skills in defence, which helps his team become national champions several years in a row.
9. Sadio Mane ($53.8 million/year)
Sadio Mane is a forward and left winger for Al-Nassr and the Senegal national team. His current contract with the Saudi Pro League club is worth millions of dollars. The club is already planning to prolong their deal due to Mane’s ability to organize smart attacks on the rival’s side.
8. Mo Salah ($53.8 million/year)
Mo Salah plays as a right winger and forward for the Premier League club Liverpool. After joining the club in 2017, he has been showing an excellent performance that has brought the team to the top of the national leaderboard. His legacy at Liverpool has been cemented, which allows him to request a higher salary each year.
7. Vinicius Junior ($56.3 million/year)
Vinicius Junior plays as a forward for La Liga club Real Madrid and the Brazil national team. With over 200 appearances on the field, he scored nearly 100 goals. Vinicius is considered to be one of the key players in Real Madrid, helping the club demonstrate exceptional performance in the national and international leagues.
6. Erling Haaland ($61.4 million/year)
Erling Haaland is a young striker for Premier League club Manchester City and the Norway national team. His exceptional strength and speed on the field made him a great asset for the team, which used to struggle with efficient attacks. His value will most likely grow in the next few years since many top clubs are already waiting for the transfer window to make their offers to Haaland.
5. Kylian Mbappe ($92.2 million/year)
Kylian Mbappe is one of the biggest football stars in Europe. A forward for La Liga club Real Madrid and captain of the France national team refused the recent offer from Saudi clubs.
At his young age, he wants to play in the strongest football leagues. And Real Madrid seems to be determined to reveal the full potential of Mbappe in the upcoming seasons.
4. Karim Benzema ($106.2 million/year)
Karim Benzema is considered one of the best strikers, playing for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad. Considering his successful career at Real Madrid, he received a massive contract from the Saudi managers, who were looking for top talent to spice up the local league. Benzema’s deal ensures a massive final payday before his eventual retirement from professional football.
3. Neymar Jr ($112.6 million/year)
Neymar Jr plays as an attacking midfielder for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Santos. Despite ups and downs in his performance, he remains one of the football superstars with extraordinary skills. Santos is ready to offer a solid amount of money to see the striker in their team at least for the next few years.
2. Lionel Messi ($138.2 million/year)
Lionel Messi is the most praised football player in the world. Despite his age, he continues to show great performance while representing both Major League Soccer club Inter Miami and the Argentina national team. His arrival in the U.S. league led to the “Messi Effect” that transformed local football forever.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo ($291.8 million/year)
Cristiano Ronaldo remains the most expensive football player in 2025. His presence in Saudi Arabia has helped spark the popularity of the national league at many levels. Ronaldo has become a brand that continues to dominate the world.
A new chapter begins. Same passion, same dream. Let’s make history together. 🟡🔵 pic.twitter.com/JRwwjEcSZR
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) June 26, 2025
In 2025, football salaries are breaking previous records. The role of investments from Middle Eastern countries has definitely impacted this crazy trend. Let’s see what the situation will be next year.