Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are still battling in a different kind of classic. It’s no longer about goals or trophies, but about money. Forbes has released its list of the world’s highest-paid players, and the Portuguese star from Al-Nassr tops it with numbers that defy market logic. He earns $280 million per year, more than double what Messi makes at Inter Miami.
Ronaldo and the Arab empire of money
Cristiano Ronaldo went to Saudi Arabia to open doors and ended up creating a new economy within soccer. When he signed with Al-Nassr, many thought it would be little more than a disguised retirement. Years later, he’s the highest-paid athlete on the planet and the main face of a league determined to challenge Europe’s dominance.
His $280 million yearly income includes salary, bonuses, and commercial deals. It’s more than any elite player in Europe earns. And what’s remarkable is that, even at 40, Ronaldo keeps performing on the field. During the latest international break, he scored against Hungary and became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup Qualifying history, with 41 goals. He surpassed Carlos Ruiz, Guatemala’s legendary “El Pescadito,” and added another chapter to a career that seems to ignore time itself.
Messi and the effect that transformed the United States
Across the ocean, Lionel Messi is rewriting the story of Major League Soccer. Since joining Inter Miami, the Argentine has completely changed how Americans view the sport. The “Messi Effect” is real and measurable. On the field, he became the club’s all-time top scorer in record time: 50 goals and 24 assists in 61 matches. Off it, stadiums sell out, TV ratings skyrocket, and the league’s global relevance has never been higher.
This season, Messi leads MLS in scoring with 26 goals and ranks among the assist leaders with 15. It’s the same dominance he displayed at Barcelona, but now in a league where he’s the main attraction. His $130 million annual salary reflects that, a massive figure, yet fully justified by the sporting and commercial impact he generates.
Stars from Real Madrid, Barcelona, and the Premier League join them
Ronaldo and Messi may have left Europe, but they’re still the standard for global success. One took his brand east, where money speaks louder; the other went west, where entertainment reigns. The Forbes top 10 perfectly captures this power shift in world soccer.
After the two legends come Benzema ($104 million), Mbappé ($95 million), Haaland ($85 million), and Vini Jr. ($60 million), showing how the elite is more diverse than ever. Jude Bellingham and Lamine Yamal, the new jewels of Real Madrid and Barcelona, complete the list with $44 million and $43 million, respectively. It’s a generational transition, but the old masters are still setting the pace.