Top 10 highest paid footballers in the world in 2023 

In 2023, professional football is a rich industry, and the top 10 highest paid footballers in the world in terms of salary and sponsorship deals are making enormous sums of money.

Footballers’ pay at the highest level of the game has increased dramatically in recent years, particularly since large multinationals, oligarchs, and oil nations became club owners.

The top incomes in the sport have also been significantly impacted by the emergence of the Saudi Pro League. Surprisingly, eight of the top 10 highest-paid footballers presently compete for Saudi Arabia.

Here, using data from the French daily Le Parisien, we examine the top 10 football players who will earn the most money worldwide in 2023, according to their annual salaries.

10. Kalidou Koulibaly – €30m (€577,000 per week)

First on the list of highest paid football player is the Senegal international who only stayed in England for one year before leaving for a new challenge abroad after having a difficult debut season in the Premier League.

He had a good salary at Chelsea previously, but Al-Hilal increased it significantly. Koulibaly is currently the highest-paid defender in the world, earning a staggering €577,000 per week.

9. Riyad Mahrez – €35m (€673,000 per week)

Without the Algerian winger, the Premier League won’t feel quite the same. But given that he will now be earning more than any of his former teammates, it’s hard to blame him for moving to Saudi Arabia.

Mahrez will be a star for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see him rack up some absurd assists and goal totals.

8. Jordan Henderson – €40m (€769,000 per week)

After completing his transfer to Al-Ettifaq, the former Liverpool captain became the highest-paid English footballer in the world. He now makes more money on his own than this absurdly gifted XI.

7. Sadio Mane – €40m (€769,000 per week)

Mane never really found his footing at Bayern Munich for whatever reason. The Senegalese forward left Anfield to the dismay of Liverpool fans at the time, but he hasn’t quite been the same since.

Before Saudi clubs began knocking, he was only at the Allianz Arena for a single year. Al Nassr ultimately prevailed in the fight to win his signature, and he will receive a nice €769,000 each week in compensation.

6. Lionel Messi – €45m (€865,000 per week)

It’s very amazing that Messi rejected a more than €1 billion deal to play in the Saudi Pro League; yet, the 36-year-old ultimately found MLS to be a more alluring endeavor.

Upon joining Inter Miami, Messi told the media, “I want to get back to enjoying myself, enjoying my family, enjoying my kids, and the day-to-day.”

As one might anticipate, Messi is killing it in the States. We haven’t seen Messi this content at the club level in a long time now that he is back alongside Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.

5. Kylian Mbappe – €70m (€1,346,000 per week)

It’s very amazing that Mbappe is currently the only player from Europe to break into the top 10 highest paid footballers given the sway European football has had over the game for the past few decades.

Although he has recently returned to first-team training following a stint with the bomb squad, his long-term future at PSG is still in doubt.

Real Madrid is still a frequent transfer target, and many people predict that when his PSG contract expires in the summer of 2019, he will join the Spanish club for free. Observe this space.

4. Neymar – €100m (€1,923,000 per week)

Without Neymar, Champions League nights won’t be the same. The Brazilian superstar recently switched to Al Hilal, where he is now taking home even more money than he was at PSG to be included in the highest paid footballers list.

Multiple sources claim that Neymar will also receive a private jet, a €80,000 win bonus, a large residence with staff, and €500,000 for each Instagram post that promotes Saudi Arabia as part of his agreement with Al Hilal. Crazy amounts of money.

3. N’Golo Kante – €100m (€1,923,000 per week)

The French midfielder is currently one of the highest paid footballers athletes in the world, and he hasn’t spent any time spending any of his money. Kante has acquired Royal Excelsior Virton, a third-tier Belgian team, using his newfound wealth.

“Flavio [the previous chairman] is obviously extremely happy to be able to hand over the keys of the club to N’Golo Kante, a high-class player, not only for his footballing qualities but also and above all for his unanimously recognized human qualities,” Royal Excelsior stated in a club statement.

N’Golo Kante’s desire to continue the club’s structuring in order to strengthen its foundations, stable the staff, and finally reestablish the practice of training RE is motivated by his love of football.

2. Karim Benzema – €200m (€3,846,000 per week)

2nd last in the list of highest paid footballers is Benzema. Benzema decided last summer that he was ready for a new challenge after winning all that was available at Real Madrid. The 35-year-old, who plays for Al-Ittihad, is currently the joint highest-paid person in the world, earning an absurd €3,846,000 every week.

The French forward, who has so far scored three goals in his first five games for his new team, has adjusted well to life in Saudi Arabia. In the upcoming years, we’re confident he’ll give Al-Ittihad supporters many special memories.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo – €200m (€3,846,000 per week)

No 1 in the list of highest paid footballers is no surprise. The previous five According to reports, the deal for the Ballon d’Or is the largest ever in football history and is worth €200 million every year.

Ronaldo will be paid €16.67 million per month, €3.888 million per week, €555,555 per day, €23,150 per hour, €386 per minute, and €6.5 per second, according to a breakdown of his compensation.

€200M/year
€16.67M/month
€3.888M/week
€555,555/day
€23,150/hour
€386/minute
€6.5/second

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That’s it folks here is the of the highest paid footballers list.

Conclusion for highest paid footballers

In the ever-evolving landscape of professional football, the year 2023 paints a vivid picture of astronomical earnings within the sport. The fusion of lucrative wages and influential sponsorships has propelled the top players to previously unimaginable financial heights.

The surge in salaries, spurred by the entry of major corporations, oligarchs, and oil-rich nations as club owners, showcases the symbiotic relationship between money and football.

Notably, the Saudi Pro League’s rise has dramatically reshaped the hierarchy of earnings, with eight out of the ten highest-paid players now plying their trade in Saudi Arabia.

This list is not just a testament to their remarkable skills, but also to the power of football as a global economic force, transcending borders and cultures.

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