Cristiano Ronaldo leads Forbes’ 2025 list of the world’s highest-paid footballers with total earnings of $280 million. Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema take second and third places respectively, while young stars like Lamine Yamal make their first appearance in the top ten.
Cristiano Ronaldo has once again topped Forbes’ list of the highest-paid footballers in the world. The Portuguese superstar earned a staggering $280 million in 2025, reclaiming his spot at the summit for the sixth time in the past decade.
According to Forbes, the combined income of footballers during the 2025–26 season has reached $945 million, equivalent to nearly 11,459 crore Bangladeshi Taka. A significant share of that belongs to Ronaldo alone.
After signing a new two-year contract with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr in June, Ronaldo is set to earn $230 million from his club salary, while another $50 million comes from sponsorships and brand deals.
Argentine legend Lionel Messi, currently with Inter Miami, ranks second on the list with estimated annual earnings of $130 million.
Following him are Karim Benzema of Al Ittihad with $104 million, Kylian Mbappé of Real Madrid with $95 million, and Erling Haaland of Manchester City with $80 million, rounding out the top five.
This year’s list also highlights the remarkable rise of young talents like Jude Bellingham and Lamine Yamal. The 18-year-old Barcelona prodigy Yamal made his debut in the top ten, thanks to lucrative brand endorsements pushing his total income to $43 million.
Other names in the top ten include Vinícius Júnior ($60 million), Mohamed Salah ($55 million), Sadio Mané ($54 million), and Jude Bellingham ($44 million).