Since leaving Real Madrid in 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo has been one of the most talked about players in the world of football. After a brief spell at Juventus, the Portuguese striker moved to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr at the end of 2022. Since then, Cristiano Ronaldo seems to have stepped out of the spotlight a bit, but that doesn’t mean he’s lost his position as one of the highest earning players in the world.
With the move to Al-Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo again became the owner of the highest salary in world football. The player receives around 200 million euros annually (R$ 1.1 billion). However, much of that income is not directly linked to his performance on the field, but to a contract to exploit his image by the Saudi Arabian government.
millionaire salary contract
The contract signed between Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr is one of the most lucrative in football history. The Saudi team pledged to pay the player a salary of 200 million euros a year, which is equivalent to around R$ 1.1 billion. This amount is almost twice as much as the annual salary of the second highest paid player in the world, Lionel Messi.
Image exploitation contract
Although CR7’s salary is high, most of it doesn’t come from performance. Government of Saudi Arabia has a contract to exploit the player’s image in advertising and marketing. This makes Cristiano Ronaldo a constant presence in the media, even when he is not playing.
The highest paid footballers in the world
With such popularity, it is no surprise that some footballers are paid millionaire salaries. So Cristiano Ronaldo is one of those players, who annually earns 75 million euros (R$ 417.6 million) per season.
The second highest-paid player in the world is Kylian Mbappé, star of Paris Saint-Germain, who earns 72 million euros (R$ 400.7 million) per year, according to the ranking of revenues in the main championships in Europe published by the French newspaper “L’Equipe”.
PSG also employs the third and fourth highest earners in world football. Neymar earns 44.1 million euros (R$ 245.3 million) a year, while Lionel Messi earns 40.5 million euros (R$ 225.3 million) annually.
Interestingly, the ranking of the best paid players in the world includes three members who do not operate in Europe, but in Asia. This proves that football is a global sport that attracts talent from all over the world, regardless of the continent where they play.
over valued players
While the millionaire salaries of soccer players may seem exorbitant to many, it is important to remember that these players have exceptional talent and skills, which make them highly valued in a highly competitive global market.
Cristiano Ronaldo returns to lead the ranking of the best paid players in the world after his move to Al-Nassr, a Saudi Arabian club. Therefore, with an annual salary of 200 million euros (R$ 1.1 billion), he left behind players like Kylian Mbappé, Neymar and Lionel Messi, who complete the top 4 salaries in European football.
But the Asian market also has its share of millionaire players. Andrés Iniesta, who plays for Vissel Kobe in Japan, occupies the fifth position on the list with a salary of 31 million euros (R$ 172.4 million), while the Brazilian Oscar, who plays for Shanghai Port in China, is in eighth place with a salary of 24 million euros (R$ 133.5 million).
Operating outside Europe
Of the ten highest paid players in the world, three play in Asia, while the other seven play in Europe. PSG, from France, is the club that has the most players in the top 10 of the highest salaries, with three athletes on the list. In addition, there is a player in Spain, one in Germany and one in England.
Although Brazilian football has evolved economically in recent years, it is still far from the reality of millionaire salaries in European and Asian football. Striker Dudu, from Palmeiras, and Uruguayan Luis Suárez, from Grêmio, are the only active players in Brazil who earn around R$ 2 million per year, equivalent to approximately 4.7 million euros.
It is interesting to note that football, even though it is considered the most popular sport in the world, still has large salary inequalities between players from different continents and countries. While the best paid players earn millionaire salaries, many players around the world struggle to earn fair and dignified wages.
The 10 highest salaries in world football
1 – Cristiano Ronaldo (POR/Al-Nassr): 75 million euros/year
2 – Kylian Mbappé (FRA/Paris Saint-Germain): €72 million/year
3 – Neymar (BRA/Paris Saint-Germain): 44.1 million euros/year
4 – Lionel Messi (ARG/Paris Saint-Germain): 40.5 million euros/year
5 – Andrés Iniesta (ESP/