Top 10 Highest-Paid Footballers in 2026 by Forbes: Ronaldo, Messi and Mbappe Lead the Rankings

The world’s only two billionaire footballers continue to enjoy record-breaking earnings as their careers approach the final stages, while World Cup excitement has helped boost the incomes of some of the sport’s rising stars.

This summer marked a gradual changing of the guard in football, highlighted by Spain’s winger Lamine Yamal, who lifted the World Cup trophy at just 19 after defeating Argentine legend Lionel Messi—the same man who famously bathed him as a baby during a now-viral photoshoot in 2007.

Although Yamal is already enjoying the financial benefits of his impressive performances on American soil, he and the next generation of football stars still have a considerable distance to cover before catching up financially with Messi and his Portuguese rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, two of the most successful money-makers in sports history.

For the fourth season in a row, and for the 12th time in the past 13 years, Ronaldo and Messi remain the world’s highest-paid footballers, with estimated earnings of $300 million and $145 million, respectively, according to Forbes. French forward Kylian Mbappé, who ranks third on this year’s list of the highest-paid footballers with an estimated $100 million, briefly topped the rankings in 2022 after receiving a substantial signing bonus when he renewed his contract with Paris Saint-Germain, two years before joining Real Madrid.

Ronaldo, who earlier this year became the first active athlete to exceed $2 billion in career pretax earnings, is expected to earn approximately $250 million from his Saudi Pro League club, Al Nassr, during the 2026–27 season, alongside another $50 million from endorsements and other business activities. Messi, meanwhile, is on track to surpass the $2 billion career earnings milestone within the next year, with an estimated $70 million from playing for MLS side Inter Miami and an additional $75 million from off-field ventures.

A chart highlighting the five highest-paid footballers, led by Cristiano Ronaldo.

These figures exclude taxes and agents’ fees. However, Forbes estimates that both Messi and Ronaldo have earned enough to qualify as billionaires.

Together, the two superstars account for nearly half of the $942 million that the ten highest-paid footballers are projected to earn this season. That figure is slightly below the $945 million recorded in 2025, despite most of the nine players returning from last year’s ranking earning more than they did previously.

The main reason for the decline is the absence of Karim Benzema, who earned an estimated $104 million last year. Following a midseason move within the Saudi Pro League from Al Ittihad to Al Hilal, Benzema agreed to terminate his contract in August and is currently a free agent. Replacing him in this year’s top ten is Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, who returns to the ranking for the first time since 2023 with estimated earnings of $42 million.

Benzema’s departure leaves just two Saudi Pro League players in the rankings: Ronaldo and his Al Nassr teammate Sadio Mané, who ranks seventh with an estimated $54 million as he enters the final year of his contract. His absence also creates space in the top five for Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr., joining Mbappé and Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, who became a fan favorite this summer after leading Norway to the World Cup quarterfinals.

Mbappé, Haaland (ranked fourth with $85 million) and Vinicius (fifth with $76 million) are all between 26 and 27 years old. They are increasingly well positioned to succeed the 41-year-old Ronaldo and 39-year-old Messi as football’s leading global stars in the years ahead. However, Yamal could potentially overtake them all. The teenage sensation, who plays for Barcelona at club level, is expected to earn $55 million this season, up from $43 million last year, following new sponsorship agreements with brands including American Eagle, Coca-Cola and McDonald’s.

Yamal’s inclusion brings the total number of La Liga players on the list to four, including three Real Madrid teammates: Mbappé, Vinicius and Jude Bellingham, who ranks eighth with estimated earnings of $45 million. Bellingham and Kane, who helped England secure third place at the World Cup, also give the United Kingdom two representatives in the top ten for the first time since 2018. Excluding Welshman Gareth Bale, this marks the first time since 2013 that two English players have appeared on the list, following David Beckham and Wayne Rooney’s inclusion that year.

However, with neither Bellingham nor Kane playing their club football in England, this year’s ranking marks the first time since Forbes introduced its annual top ten in 2005 that the Premier League has had fewer than two representatives. Mohamed Salah’s summer departure from Liverpool to Turkish club Trabzonspor leaves Haaland as the league’s sole representative.