New Forbes numbers
Cristiano Ronaldo has joined the “ForbesAccording to magazine, he is ranked among the highest-earning footballers in the world. Thanks to his new salary in Saudi Arabia, he is now displacing PSG star Kylian Mbappé. The Frenchman, who was at the top of the global salary rankings last year, will also be overtaken this year by Neymar, who also went to the Saudi Pro League, and by Lionel Messi after his move to Inter Miami.
October 2023: The “Forbes” ranking of the top earners in world football
Anyone who moved to the financially strong Saudi league has recently been exposed to harsh criticism from Europe. The numbers that the magazine gives with reference to its own research and estimates also make it clear how lucrative a trip into the much-vaunted desert can be. The financial magazine refers to amounts that were received within the last twelve months. Ronaldo, who decided to join Al-Nassr in the winter of this year, is estimated to have total income of $260 million since October 2022. $200 million of this comes from his salary, $60 million from external income such as personal advertising contracts. For comparison: Last year, “Forbes” estimated the then Manchester United professional’s income since 2021 at $100 million.
With Neymar, the difference between previous PSG income and current earnings is not (yet) that big, but it is still significant. The magazine lists the Brazilian, who has only been under contract in the Saudi league since August, at $112 million, of which $80 million is salary. In the previous year, total revenue was expected to be $87 million. In addition, Neymar is said to have been promised a fleet of luxury cars, access to a private jet and bonuses for victories and social media posts by his employer. Messi, meanwhile, with income of $135 million, is the only player in the top 10 whose external income of $70 million exceeds the salary collected at PSG and now in Miami (€60 million).
Top 10 earners in football: Mané new – Bayern’s Kane ahead of Lewandowski
While ex-Munich player Sadio Mané and former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema are also rising to the top 10 earners worldwide thanks to their move to Saudi Arabia, a player from the Bundesliga is also there this year. Harry Kane, who was not at the top of the list in last year’s ranking, is now ranked tenth. With alleged total income of $36 million, he is just ahead of former Bayern Munich shooter Robert Lewandowski at FC Barcelona.
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