Two Premier League Stars in Top 10 Highest-Paid Football Players List
Forbes have released their annual list of the highest-paid players.
Featured Image Credit: Carl Recine / Staff via Getty
James Taylor
Two Premier League stars have been named among the top 10 highest-paid football players in the world and it's no surprise who sits at the top.
The American business magazine Forbes has published their their annual list of the best-paid players.
Cristiano Ronaldo continues to lead the way by a huge margin, with total earnings of an enormous $280 million.
The Portuguese forward signed a huge new deal with Al-Nassr earlier this year that will see him earn an incredible £492 million over two seasons.
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Earlier this month, Ronaldo also became the first footballer in history to become a billionaire.
His great rival, Lionel Messi, is second on the list with earnings of $130 million.
The 38-year-old's contract at Inter Miami expires in December, but the American club are confident that he will extend his stay in the United States.
Although Messi has not yet confirmed whether he will play at next summer's World Cup, many expect him to return in an attempt to help Argentina defend their title.
Manchester City's Erling Haaland and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah are the Premier League's only representatives in the top 10.
Haaland is fifth on the list with total earnings of $80 million, with $60 million of that coming from his on-field salary.
The 25-year-old has made a blistering start to the season and has already scored 12 goals in just nine games for City.
Since joining Pep Guardiola's side in 2022 for £51.2 million, Haaland has broken several long-standing records.
In his debut campaign, he scored 36 goals, surpassing Alan Shearer's mark that had stood since 1994-95
Off the pitch, Haaland has also been hugely successful, with most of his off-field income coming from his 10-year deal that he signed with Nike in 2023.
Salah is seventh on the list with total earnings of $55 million, including $35 million through his Liverpool contract.
The Egyptian joined Liverpool for £34 million in 2017 and has since established himself as the league's most consistent performer.
He now sits third on the club's all-time top scorers list with 248 goals, and most recently signed a two-year extension in May.
Salah will also feature at next summer's World Cup, after Egypt secured qualification.
Total includes on and off-field earnings
1: Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr and Portugal) - $280m (£208m)
2: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami and Argentina) - $130m (£97m)
3: Karim Benzema (Al Ittihad and France) - $104m (£77m)
4: Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid and France) - $95m (£71m)
5: Erling Haaland (Manchester City and Norway) - $80m (£60m)
6: Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid and Brazil) - $60m (£45m)
7: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool and Egypt) - $55m (£41m)
8: Sadio Mane (Al Nassr and Senegal) - $54m (£40m)
9: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid and England) - $44m (£33m)
10: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona and Spain) - $43m (£32m)