Ronaldo leads, Messi second | Highest-paid footballers list by Forbes
Ronaldo tops the Forbes list of highest-paid footballers for the 2025-26 season, followed by Messi. Neymar is not on the list, while Jamal and Bellingham have made their way into it.
Ronaldo takes first, Messi is second: Neymar left out of new Forbes ranking
The competition for wealth and fame in football is always tough. Forbes has released a new list of the richest football players for the 2025-26 season, mixing new talents with established stars. Surprisingly, Brazil’s Neymar Jr. is absent from the list this year.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are the world’s highest-paid footballers of the 2025-26 season, while Neymar is off the ranking.
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| Cristiano Ronaldo leads Forbes 2025 highest-paid footballers list, with Lionel Messi in second place — world’s top-earning football stars. |
The top ten footballers in the world have earned a total of $945 million this season, which is 4 percent less than last year. Still, the financial strength of football shows no signs of slowing down.
So who are in the top five?
Positio Player Club
Total Revenue (USD)
1 Cristiano Ronaldo Al NASA (Saudi Arabia) 280 million
2 Lionel Messi Inter Miami (USA), 130 million
3 Karim Benzema Al Etihad (Saudi Arabia) 104 million
4 Kylian Mbappé Real Madrid 95 million
5 Erling Haaland Manchester City 80 million
Ronaldo: The clear leader at 40
At 40, Cristiano Ronaldo has shown that age doesn’t matter.
With his new two-year deal at Al Nassr, he will earn about $280 million. The club pays him $230 million, while other brands like Nike, Binance, and Herbalife contribute $50 million.
This marks the sixth time in ten years that Ronaldo has made the list of the highest-paid footballers in the world.
Messi's steady peak: He still shines in second place
Lionel Messi, a player for Inter Miami, is currently earning around $130 million.
In addition to his on-field earnings, major brands like Adidas, Apple, and Hard Rock Café bring in significant revenue for him.
Messi’s appeal has taken Major League Soccer to a new global level.
Saudi influence and the Middle Eastern football economy
The Forbes list shows that Saudi Pro League teams are currently leading the financial scene in football.
Teams like Al Nassr, Al Etihad, and Al Hill are attracting European stars with substantial contracts, shifting the economic landscape of world football.
Neymar's fall: Return to Santos saw revenue drop
Neymar used to be the most expensive player in football.
However, after he left his contract with Al Hill and returned to Santos in Brazil, his earnings fell to just $38 million.
As a result, he has dropped off Forbes’ top 10 list for the first time.
New wave: Jamal and Bellingham
A surprising addition to the list is Barcelona’s 18-year-old Lamine Yamal, who has earned $43 million.
He is quickly becoming a prominent face of the brand at a young age.
Along with him, Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham is in ninth place with earnings of $44 million.
This rise of young players indicates that football’s future is becoming much more dynamic and varied.
Expert opinion: A new era in football finance
Sports finance experts say that investments from Saudi Arabia and America are changing the financial balance in football. Now, players’ earnings and business opportunities are rising globally, not just in Europe.
While the era of Ronaldo and Messi may be ending, their brand power remains unmatched.
Question 1: Who is the richest footballer of the 2025-26 season?
Cristiano Ronaldo has the highest pay at $280 million from Al Nassr.
Question 2: How much does Lionel Messi make?
Inter Miami’s on-field and branding income is about $130 million.
Question 3: Why is Neymar not on the list?
His pay dropped to $38 million after he canceled his deal with Al Hill and went back to Santos.
Question 4: Who is the youngest footballer on this list?
Lamine Yamal, 18 years old from Barcelona, makes $43 million.
Money, fame, and the new football landscape
Forbes' latest ranking reflects the financial growth of football.
As the era of Ronaldo and Messi comes to a close, a new generation of stars like Jamal and Bellingham is beginning to make history.
Who do you think could become football's next commercial leader after Ronaldo and Messi?
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Author:
Md. Nauru Islam
Blogger | Digital Marketer | Video Editor