When Mohamed Salah terminated his contract with Liverpool a year early, MLS and the Saudi Pro League emerged as potential destinations for the Egyptian star. Instead, he shocked the soccer world this summer by signing with Trabzonspor in the Turkish Süper Lig.

On its face, it appears Salah is taking a discount. He previously earned an estimated $35 million on the field during his final season in England. With Trabzonspor, Salah will collect $19.7 million (€17 million) in guaranteed compensation during each season of his two-year deal, split between a base salary and signing fees, according to a public team disclosure.

But Salah can earn much more with the Middle Eastern club. In addition to conditional bonuses tied to on-field performance, he’s also in line to receive a 20% cut of merchandise revenue from the club’s retail business for any products tied to him.

While it’s unclear how big Salah’s final payday will eventually be, the 34-year-old still ranks as one of the sport’s top earners in the meantime. Factoring in the $20 million he makes from his off-the-field endeavors, Salah is slated to earn $40 million in estimated total earnings this season before taxes and agents’ fees.

That puts him at No. 10 among the world’s highest-paid soccer players, a familiar group of stars that is expected to collectively earn $935 million over the 2026-27 campaign. It’s a 1% increase over the $924 million they earned last season, coinciding with a lack of movement for the top players in the sport, other than Salah moving to Turkey.

Cristiano Ronaldo tops the leaderboard, yet again. The world’s highest-paid athlete in any sport over the past three years, according to Sportico’s calendar-year ranking, is projected to earn an estimated $300 million this season. Much of that sum—$250 million—comes from his contract with the Saudi Pro League’s Al Nassr, which is believed to be subsidized by commercial agreements orchestrated by the club. He also makes $50 million annually from a stable of sponsors that includes Nike, Panini and Whoop.

Meanwhile, his long-time rival, Lionel Messi, ranks second. The Argentine star, who came one match away from winning his second World Cup this summer, trails Ronaldo’s on-field earnings with just $75 million. But Messi remains the best pitchman in the sport. He makes an estimated $75 million from a collection of brand partners that includes Adidas, Michelob Ultra and Lowe’s, putting his total earnings at $150 million.

Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé, the only other player to cross the nine-figure threshold, lands in the third spot at $105 million. Manchester City’s Erling Haaland (No. 4, $85 million) and Mbappé’s Los Blancos teammate, Vinicius Jr. (No. 5, $67 million), round out the top five.

Spain’s LaLiga was the most represented league on the list, with Mbappé, Vinicius Jr. and Jude Bellingham (No. 8, $46 million), as well as Barcelona phenom Lamine Yamal (No. 7, $47 million). The Saudi Pro League has the next largest share between Ronaldo and Sadio Mané (No. 6, $54 million) at Al Nassr. The Premier League, German Bundesliga, Major League Soccer and the Turkish Süper Lig each have one player in Haaland, Harry Kane (No. 9, $42 million), Messi and Salah, respectively.

The World’s 10 Highest-Paid Soccer Players

1. Cristiano Ronaldo: $300 million

On-Field: $250 million | Off-Field: $50 million | Age: 41 | Nationality: Portugal | Club: Al Nassr

After Portugal flamed out of the World Cup, Ronaldo told reporters the 2026 tournament would be his final appearance on the global stage. And while he returned to the national team for the UEFA Nations League, his unexplained departure from the squad’s camp ahead of its match with Denmark last week has left his international future in question, as well as how it impacts his quest for 1,000 career goals. (The president of Portugal’s federation this week called it a “misunderstanding that needs to be resolved internally.”) Off the pitch, Ronaldo continues to build his business portfolio. He struck partnerships with home technology provider Dreame and Lego, and he also took a stake in international streamer LiveModeTV earlier this year.

2. Lionel Messi: $150 million

On-Field: $75 million | Off-Field: $75 million | Age: 39 | Nationality: Argentina | Club: Inter Miami

Messi officially announced his retirement from Argentina’s national team in August. While the 39-year-old star said the passing of his father just a few weeks earlier furthered his decision, he revealed on Instagram that he had written his farewell message just two days after his country lost the World Cup final to Spain in July. His Inter Miami career is slated to continue for some time, having signed a contract extension that expires in 2028. Messi has also continued adding to his commercial plate, notably through collaborations with prediction market platform Kalshi and tech company OpenAI, and he’s an executive producing a Messi-inspired animated series that will premiere globally on Disney+ and the Disney Channel in the U.S. next summer.

3. Kylian Mbappé: $105 million

On-Field: $70 million | Off-Field: $35 million | Age: 27 | Nationality: France | Club: Real Madrid

Last month, Mbappé ended a 20-year relationship with Nike that started when the apparel maker signed him in 2006 as an 8-year-old. Now, the French striker is the face of On’s newly launched soccer division, having joined the Swiss sportswear company in a deal that reportedly includes equity. Mbappé also has stakes in German consumer electronics company Loewe International, Ligue 2 club Stade Malherbe Caen, the France SailGP Team and luxury watch trading platform Wristcheck. On the field, he recently suffered an injury with France during the international break, but reports suggest he will return by Real Madrid’s match with Barcelona at the end of October, a rivalry otherwise known as El Clásico. Mbappé did, however, post a video of himself cycling on social media over the weekend, days after his Real Madrid manager, José Mourinho, said that activity is one soccer players should avoid.

4. Erling Haaland: $85 million

On-Field: $60 million | Off-Field: $25 million | Age: 26 | Nationality: Norway | Club: Manchester City

Haaland’s popularity exploded during the World Cup as he scored seven goals and led Norway to the quarterfinals, the furthest run in the country’s history. The Scandinavian striker picked up 32.1 million followers on Instagram, more than any other player competing in the tournament this summer. Since returning to club play this season, it’s been business as usual for Haaland—other than cutting off his signature blonde locks. He’s scored seven goals in seven matches across all competitions. But whether he plays out his contract, which runs through 2034, with Manchester City is up for debate. The club was recently found guilty on 114 charges by an independent commission for breaking the Premier League’s financial rules, including allegedly inflating commercial partnerships, manipulating public disclosures and breaching competition spending limits.

5. Vinicius Jr.: $67 million

On-Field: $45 million | Off-Field: $22 million | Age: 26 | Nationality: Brazil | Club: Real Madrid

Vinicius Jr.’s future with Real Madrid was secured in August after the club signed him to a six-year contract extension that keeps him at the Bernabéu through the 2031-32 season. His production to start this campaign has left a bit to be desired, relative to years past, but he still leads Real Madrid in assists with three. Off the pitch, Vinicius Jr. recently appeared in a Hugo Boss campaign that also included Oscar-nominated actor Bradley Cooper and Latin Grammy Award-winning Colombian artist Maluma. His likeness is also featured in the Fortnite video game.

6. Sadio Mané: $54 million

On-Field: $50 million | Off-Field: $4 million | Age: 34 | Nationality: Senegal | Club: Al Nassr

Mané’s on-field future is unclear given his contract with Al Nassr expires at the end of the 2026-27 season, though some expect him to extend his time in Saudi Arabia. In the meantime, he’s making a major push into the fruit business. Mané is investing $20.4 million into an agro-industrial complex located in his hometown of Bambali, Senegal, which will export mangoes and produce other related products, with a goal of catalyzing economic growth in the country, according to Bloomberg. He also has assembled a real estate portfolio in the country, including a shopping mall in the capital city of Dakar, and he owns a majority stake in French club Bourges FC.

7. Lamine Yamal: $47 million

On-Field: $35 million | Off-Field: $12 million | Age: 19 | Nationality: Spain | Club: Barcelona

Lamine Yamal may have been light on the score sheet during the World Cup, but the teenage phenom played his role to perfection during Spain’s tournament-winning run. (His left foot has since caught fire, metaphorically.) Now, having accomplished the feat at such a young age, Lamine Yamal is poised to cash in for years to come. In 2026 alone, he boosted his off-the-field business by appearing in World Cup campaigns for Google and McDonald’s, collaborating with Pokémon for the brand’s 30th anniversary and adding a global ambassadorship with American Eagle to a stable of sponsors that already included Adidas, Coca-Cola and Beats by Dre.

8. Jude Bellingham: $45 million

On-Field: $29 million | Off-Field: $16 million | Age: 23 | Nationality: England | Club: Real Madrid

Bellingham was one of the breakout stars of this summer’s World Cup, and even though he has three seasons left on his contract, reports have suggested the 23-year-old Englishman is the next Real Madrid star in line for a big extension. Bellingham has followed a similar trajectory off the pitch, emerging as one of the sport’s most marketable young stars. His sponsors include Adidas, men’s care brand Onside and energy drink maker Lucozade, and he also reportedly bought a 1.2% stake in Birmingham Phoenix, a professional cricket franchise in England.

9. Harry Kane: $42 million

On-Field: $30 million | Off-Field: $12 million | Age: 33 | Nationality: England | Club: Bayern Munich

Kane never won a major professional team trophy before arriving in Germany three years ago. Now, he’s got five to his name—two Bundesliga titles, the German Cup and the country’s Super Cup twice. With his contract set to expire at the end of the 2026-27 season, Kane and Bayern Munich are looking to keep that momentum going. The 33-year-old striker in September said “the talks are going well” and “I think it won’t be long before there’s some kind of announcement,” according to the Bundesliga website. Kane has 19 partners as a pitchman, including Skechers, Fanatics and Google Gemini.

10. Mohamed Salah: $40 million

On-Field: $20 million | Off-Field: $20 million | Age: 34 | Nationality: Egypt | Club: Trabzonspor

Salah has been strong on the field since joining Trabzonspor a few months ago. In just six matches played, he’s already notched seven goals and two assists across all competitions. But he’s also having an impact on the local population. After posting a picture on a random rock in the Turkish highlands on Instagram, Salah has transformed the spot into a tourist attraction, with droves of fans making the pilgrimage. Off the pitch, he works with Vodafone, Pepsi and Adidas.

Methodology

Sportico’s list of the highest-paid soccer players reflects earnings estimates for the 2026-27 season. Because MLS plays on a calendar-year schedule, the 2026 season was used for Lionel Messi.

The on-field figures include base salaries, bonuses and, in some cases, club-based image rights agreements. Off-field numbers are comprised of endorsements, licensing, appearances and memorabilia, as well as cash returns from any businesses in which the athlete has a significant interest. In situations where league or club sponsors are believed to subsidize players’ contracts, like with Cristiano Ronaldo or Messi, that value is captured in on-field earnings.

The estimates are derived from publicly available databases, including Capology.com, and from conversations with industry insiders and experts. Sportico does not count investment income or dividends in these calculations. Payouts for equity stakes athletes have sold are included.

Taxes and agents’ fees, as well as transfer fees, were also excluded. All figures are converted to U.S. dollars using the exchange rate from Sep. 1, 2026.