Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi continue to dominate football’s earnings rankings, while Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal are building fortunes of their own.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi remain in a league of their own when it comes to football earnings, even as a new generation of stars begins to challenge their dominance on the pitch.
According to Forbes estimates, Ronaldo is expected to earn $300 million in the 2026-27 season, while Messi is projected to bring in $145 million. It marks the fourth consecutive season in which the two icons have occupied the top two positions, and the 12th time in the past 13 years.
Ronaldo’s estimated earnings comprise $250 million from Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr and a further $50 million from endorsements and other business ventures. Messi, meanwhile, is expected to collect around $70 million from Inter Miami and $75 million from commercial activities.
Both players have already achieved billionaire status, according to Forbes estimates of their accumulated wealth. Ronaldo became the first active athlete to surpass $2 billion in career pretax earnings earlier this year, while Messi is expected to reach the same milestone within the next 12 months.
Together, the pair account for almost half of the $942 million that the world’s ten highest-paid footballers are expected to earn this season. The combined figure is slightly below last year’s $945 million, despite rising earnings for most players returning to the ranking.
Mbappé and Haaland lead the next generation
French forward Kylian Mbappé occupies third place with estimated earnings of $100 million, followed by Manchester City striker Erling Haaland on $85 million. Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr. completes the top five with $76 million.
All three are aged between 26 and 27, putting them in a strong position to become the sport’s leading commercial figures as Ronaldo, 41, and Messi, 39, approach the end of their careers.
Mbappé’s income reflects his position as one of football’s most marketable players. In September, he ended his long-standing partnership with Nike and signed with Swiss sportswear brand On, reportedly securing an equity stake in the publicly traded company as part of the agreement. The value of his stake has not been disclosed.
The forward also enjoyed a productive World Cup, winning the Golden Boot with ten goals as France finished fourth. His career tally of 22 World Cup goals has already made him the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.
Haaland, meanwhile, helped Norway achieve its best-ever World Cup performance, boosting his global profile and nearly doubling his Instagram following to 77 million. Alongside his long-term contract with Manchester City, which runs until 2034, he has secured commercial partnerships with digital bank Revolut and Chinese tea company Walovi.
However, uncertainty surrounds Manchester City’s future following a recent independent commission ruling concerning alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules between 2009 and 2018. The club is expected to appeal, while the potential consequences remain unclear.
Vinicius has established himself as one of Brazil’s leading football figures, scoring at least 20 goals in all competitions in each of Real Madrid’s past five seasons. He signed a new six-year contract in August, extending his stay at the Spanish club until 2032. His commercial partners include Fanatics, Hugo Boss and Brazilian telecommunications company Vivo.
Lamine Yamal’s growing commercial power
At just 19, Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal is already earning an estimated $55 million a season, up from $43 million last year. His growing list of sponsors includes American Eagle, Coca-Cola and McDonald’s.
Yamal’s commercial rise follows an outstanding campaign in which he recorded 16 goals and 12 assists in La Liga, helping Barcelona secure the league title. He was also named the competition’s top player for the 2025-26 season.
Although his goal tally at the World Cup was more modest than those of some of his rivals, Yamal played a key role in Spain’s successful campaign. His growing popularity suggests he could eventually challenge established stars for both sporting honours and commercial influence.
His partnership with American Eagle is particularly notable: the clothing brand signed him to a five-year agreement, its first multi-year partnership with an athlete. He now has around a dozen sponsors.
Yamal’s rise also reflects a broader shift in football’s financial landscape, as younger players build global audiences through social media and commercial partnerships well before reaching the peak of their careers.
Saudi Arabia’s influence begins to recede
The departure of Karim Benzema from the rankings has reduced the Saudi Pro League’s representation among the top ten to two players: Ronaldo and his Al Nassr teammate Sadio Mané.
Benzema earned an estimated $104 million last year but became a free agent after terminating his contract in August following his move from Al Ittihad to Al Hilal earlier in the year.
Mané ranks seventh with projected earnings of $54 million as he enters the final season of his contract. The Senegalese winger also remains a key figure in his national team, having helped his country secure victory over Morocco in a controversial Africa Cup of Nations final in January.
The match was interrupted after a disputed penalty was awarded to Morocco in stoppage time, prompting Senegal’s players to leave the pitch in protest. Mané persuaded his teammates to return, and Senegal subsequently won 1-0. The title was later stripped following the protest, a decision Senegal is challenging.
At club level, Mané and Ronaldo are attempting to guide Al Nassr to another Saudi Pro League title. Mané’s endorsement portfolio is more limited than those of some of his peers, although he has a long-term agreement with New Balance.
England’s presence grows as the Premier League loses ground
Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham ranks eighth, with estimated earnings of $45 million. Alongside Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, who earns an estimated $42 million, he gives England two representatives in the top ten for the first time since 2018.
Bellingham enjoyed a strong World Cup campaign, scoring seven goals for England. His current Real Madrid contract runs until 2029, but reports suggest discussions over an extension are already under way. His commercial partnerships include Adidas, Louis Vuitton and Skims, and he has invested in men’s grooming brand Onside.
Kane, meanwhile, has returned to the top ten for the first time since 2023. The England captain scored four goals at the World Cup and has a total of 14 across his tournament appearances. Having joined Bayern Munich in 2023 after 14 years at Tottenham Hotspur, he is reportedly close to extending his contract beyond its current expiry date.
Kane’s commercial partners include Skechers, Crayola, Google Gemini and Oura Ring.
Despite the presence of two English players, the ranking highlights a shift away from the Premier League. For the first time since Forbes began compiling its football earnings list in 2005, the competition has only one representative: Haaland.
Mohamed Salah’s departure from Liverpool has contributed to that change. The Egyptian winger, whose contract expired over the summer, surprised many observers by joining Turkish club Trabzonspor rather than moving to Major League Soccer or the Saudi Pro League.
Salah is expected to earn around $19 million annually on a two-year deal that also guarantees him a 20% royalty on merchandise featuring his name that the club sells. His commercial partnerships include Adidas, Pepsi and Vodafone.
Ronaldo and Messi prepare for life beyond football
Despite the rise of younger stars, Ronaldo and Messi continue to benefit from enormous global audiences and extensive business interests.
Ronaldo has suggested that the 2026-27 season could be his last as a professional footballer, although he has yet to confirm a retirement date. With 981 goals in club and international football, he is 19 short of the historic 1,000-goal milestone.
His interests extend well beyond the pitch, including investments in companies such as Perplexity and Whoop, as well as his CR7 brand, which covers clothing, fragrances and hotels. Forbes estimates his net worth at around $1.2 billion.
Messi, meanwhile, remains the face of Major League Soccer. His Inter Miami compensation is believed to include revenue-sharing arrangements with Adidas and Apple TV, while his contract runs until 2028. He also has an option to acquire an ownership stake in the club after retirement.
The Argentine has expanded his commercial portfolio through partnerships with companies including Mastercard, Michelob, OpenAI and Duracell. He has also moved further into football ownership, purchasing Spanish second-division club Eldense after acquiring fifth-tier side Cornellà, based near Barcelona.
The two players are approaching the closing stages of extraordinary careers, but their earnings underline how football’s biggest stars can remain financial powerhouses long after their peak playing years. For the generation led by Mbappé, Haaland, Vinicius and Yamal, the challenge will be to match not only their achievements on the pitch, but also the commercial empires built by the sport’s two most lucrative icons.
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