Saudi Arabia dominates the list
Forbes: Cristiano Ronaldo earns 8 euros – per second
October 13, 2023, 5:28 p.m
The sums that Forbes magazine shows in a list of the highest-paid footballers are simply unimaginable. Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is earning 247 million euros this year, or around 8 euros per second. Nothing follows him for a long time, the Bundesliga is behind.
Cristiano Ronaldo is, according to one “Forbes“-Report is currently the highest-paid footballer in the world. According to estimates by the business magazine, the Portuguese superstar will earn a total of the equivalent of 247 million euros from his salary and advertising revenue in 2023. Ronaldo has been playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia since the beginning of the year. The clubs The Saudi Pro League based there attracted top players with astronomical sums, especially in the summer.
Four clubs in the league are controlled by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF. In addition to a lot of money, the clubs offer their stars many other amenities. For his signing this summer, the Brazilian Neymar received a private fleet of vehicles, a personal chauffeur and a luxury villa with 25 rooms, several saunas and even more butlers. It’s this decadence that turned the sport on its head over the summer and now the rankings too.
Only one Bundesliga player makes the list
Accordingly, other professionals from clubs in the country made it to the top of the list of top paid kickers. After Argentina’s world champion captain Lionel Messi, who plays in the USA for Inter Miami and is expected to earn a total of 128 million euros, comes the Brazilian Neymar from Al-Hilal (106 million) ahead of Kylian Mbappe from Paris St. Germain (104 million). Fifth is Karim Benzema (101 million) from Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.
While Manchester City’s star striker Erling Haaland follows in sixth place with a calculated 55 million euros, followed by other top-class players like Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané, who also plays in Saudi Arabia, and Kevin De Bruyne from English champions City. Only then does the first Bundesliga professional come along, Bayern Munich’s top signing Harry Kane ranks tenth according to Forbes and is expected to receive around 34 million euros from the club and its advertising partners. The list ends with Robert Lewandowski, who moved from Bavaria to Barcelona last summer.
In total, the eleven highest-paid soccer players in the world will earn almost 950 million euros before taxes and consulting fees, according to the report. This is an increase of an enormous 53 percent compared to the previous year.