Who is the highest-paid footballer of 2024?

The year 2024 has gone down in history as a year in which income records were broken in the world of football. According to the list prepared by Forbes, 2024 revealed the highest-earning names in the football world. Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for the Saudi Arabian team Al Nassr, took the top spot with an income of 285 million dollars.

While 4 footballers from Saudi Arabia found a place in the top 10, 3 players from England, 2 from Spain, and 1 from the USA entered the list.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr)

The Portuguese star earned more than twice as much as his closest rival on the list, Lionel Messi, in 2024. 39-year-old Ronaldo broke his own record of 260 million dollars from last year, increasing his income to 285 million dollars.

Reaching nearly 1 billion followers on social media, Ronaldo increased his off-field income to 65 million dollars through Nike and other brand deals, as well as hotel and clothing investments. He earned 220 million dollars annually from Al Nassr.

Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)

Argentine star Lionel Messi took second place on the list with an income of 135 million dollars. Earning 75 million dollars thanks to deals with brands such as Adidas, Apple TV, and Konami, Messi is the leader in off-field income. The 37-year-old footballer received an annual salary of 60 million dollars from Inter Miami, where he plays.

Neymar (Al Hilal)

Brazilian Neymar became the third highest-paid footballer of 2024 with his on-field and off-field income. Earning an 80 million dollar salary from Al Hilal, Neymar increased his total earnings to 110 million dollars with income from collaborations with brands like Puma and social media.

Karim Benzema (Al Ittihad)

French star Karim Benzema received an annual salary of 100 million dollars from the Saudi Arabian team Al Ittihad. Increasing his total earnings to 104 million dollars with his off-field income, Benzema ranked fourth on the list.

Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)

French footballer Kylian Mbappe realized his childhood dream this year by transferring to Real Madrid. Earning 20 million dollars through deals with brands such as Nike and Dior, Mbappe reached a total income of 90 million dollars with the 70 million dollars he earned from football. The star player's departure caused a decline in the broadcast revenues of France's Ligue 1.

List of the highest-paid footballers of 2024:

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr) - 285 million dollars

2. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) - 135 million dollars

3. Neymar (Al Hilal) - 110 million dollars

4. Karim Benzema (Al Ittihad) - 104 million dollars

5. Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid) - 90 million dollars

6. Erling Haaland (Manchester City) - 60 million dollars

7. Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid) - 55 million dollars

8. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) - 53 million dollars

9. Sadio Mane (Al Nassr) - 52 million dollars

10. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - 39 million dollars