Forget the transfer fees for a moment.
The stars lighting up the 2026 FIFA World Cup aren’t just competing for football’s biggest prize.
They’re also some of the world’s biggest earners.
Between blockbuster contracts, global sponsorships and business empires that stretch far beyond the pitch, these players are taking home hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
Forbes estimates the ten highest paid footballers at this year’s tournament will collectively earn almost $900 million over the past 12 months.
Here are the players topping the money league.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Estimated annual earnings: $300 million
Cristiano Ronaldo remains football’s financial king. Even at 41, the Portuguese superstar tops Forbes’ World Cup rich list thanks to his record breaking Al Nassr contract and an enormous portfolio of commercial deals.
Nike, CR7 fashion, hotels, fragrances and more than a billion social media followers have turned him into one of the world’s most marketable athletes. Forbes also estimates his overall net worth at around $1.2 billion.
2. Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Estimated annual earnings: $140 million
World Cup winner Lionel Messi may be winding down his extraordinary career, but his earning power remains phenomenal. His Inter Miami contract, combined with long standing partnerships with Adidas, Apple and other global brands, keeps him comfortably in second place.
3. Kylian Mbappé (France)
Estimated annual earnings: $95 million
Now firmly established as football’s biggest star of the next generation, Mbappé continues to cash in on his success. His move to Real Madrid has further boosted both his salary and global appeal, making him one of the sport’s most valuable commercial assets.
4. Erling Haaland (Norway)
Estimated annual earnings: $80 million
Norway’s return to the World Cup also brings one of football’s most feared strikers back onto the biggest stage. Manchester City’s goal machine combines one of Europe’s highest salaries with sponsorship deals that continue to grow as his reputation does.
5. Vinícius Júnior (Brazil)
Estimated annual earnings: $60 million
The Real Madrid winger has become one of Brazil’s brightest stars both on and off the pitch. His dazzling performances have translated into lucrative endorsement deals, helping him break into the world’s highest paid players.
6. Harry Kane (England)
Estimated annual earnings: $41 million
England captain Harry Kane has enjoyed another lucrative season following his move to Bayern Munich. His earnings are bolstered by sponsorship agreements and a carefully managed commercial portfolio that continues to expand.
7. Jude Bellingham (England)
Estimated annual earnings: $44 million
Already one of the faces of world football at just 23, Bellingham has become a marketing dream. Alongside his Real Madrid salary, he has signed deals with Adidas, Louis Vuitton, Skims and McDonald’s. A strong World Cup could elevate him into the same commercial league as Ronaldo and Messi.
8. Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
Estimated annual earnings: around $40 million
Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah remains one of Africa’s biggest sporting icons. His Premier League earnings, coupled with sponsorships from brands such as Adidas and Pepsi, continue to make him one of football’s highest paid players.
9. Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)
Estimated annual earnings: around $39 million
Belgium’s midfield maestro has spent years among the Premier League’s elite earners. Off the pitch, partnerships with major brands and investments have helped him build an impressive financial portfolio.
10. Lautaro Martínez (Argentina)
Estimated annual earnings: around $32 million
The Inter Milan striker rounds out the top ten. Fresh from another successful season in Italy, Martínez has seen both his salary and commercial profile grow, cementing his place among football’s biggest earners.
Football’s billion dollar business
The days when footballers relied solely on their weekly wages are long gone. Today’s elite players are global brands in their own right.
Social media has become a second career, with Ronaldo and Messi able to command eye watering sums for a single sponsored post. Endorsement deals with sportswear giants, luxury watchmakers, airlines and technology companies often rival, or even exceed, what players earn on the pitch.
Many have also become entrepreneurs. Ronaldo owns hotels, gyms, fashion brands and a hair transplant clinic. Messi has invested in hotels and property. Others are backing technology companies, restaurants, esports and health businesses.
The result is that success on the pitch increasingly creates opportunities far beyond football.
With the World Cup watched by billions around the globe, another memorable tournament could see several players on this list sign even bigger commercial deals before the final whistle has blown. For the biggest stars, lifting the trophy would be priceless. Everything else has a very substantial price tag.
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