According to Forbes, Cristiano Ronaldo holds the title of the highest-earning soccer player in 2023. His total income of $260 million secured his top spot on Forbes’ most recent list of the top 10 highest-paid footballers.
In this ranking, he outpaced both Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. Messi secured the second position with earnings of $135 million, Neymar Jr. took third place with $112 million, and Mbappe followed closely behind in fourth place with $110 million.
The remaining footballers in the Forbes’ top 10 list include Karim Benzema, Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané, Kevin De Bruyne, and Harry Kane.
Ronaldo’s income is comprised of $200 million from his activities on the field and an additional $60 million from endorsements.
In contrast, Messi possesses the lowest on-field salary among the top four, earning $65 million for his on-field performance, supplemented by $70 million from endorsements.
Neymar’s earnings break down to $80 million from his play and an additional $32 million from outside ventures, while Mbappe amasses $90 million through his on-field contributions and $20 million from off-field endeavors outside of Paris St. Germain.
Ronaldo’s earnings nearly doubled that of Messi’s, a change primarily attributed to his move from the Premier League to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia’s impact on the world of soccer has been substantial, with many star players moving there to take advantage of the lucrative salaries offered.
This shift to the Saudi Pro League also significantly benefited Neymar Jr., propelling him to the third spot on the list.
Outside of the Saudi Pro League, Lionel Messi’s transfer to the United States made a massive impact on soccer. His decision to join Inter Miami resulted in record-breaking ticket sales, revenue, and heightened attention for Major League Soccer (MLS).
Cristiano Ronaldo previously held the title of the highest-paid footballer from 2014 to 2017 and reclaimed it in 2021 after Kylian Mbappe briefly held the position in 2022.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
This season he played in total 8 times for 716 minutes for Pro League.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored 9 goals for Al Nassr. He procured 5 assists. He received no yellow cards and no red cards.
His team is currently 3rd in Pro League. In the last match Al Nassr drew 2-2 against Abha. The next match in Pro League will be against Dhamk.
Al Nassr performance and stats
Al Nassr is currently 3rd in the Pro League with 19 points.
In the last 9 games, it has won 6 times, drawn once, and lost twice. In its last match, Al Nassr drawn 2-2 against Abha.
It has a positive goal difference after scoring 26 goals and conceding 12.
Al Nassr will play the next match in Pro League against Dhamk on Wednesday 18th of October in Riyadh. The prediction is Al Nassr winning the match.
Kylian Mbappé
Kylian Mbappé Lottin
This season he played in total 7 times for 521 minutes for Ligue 1.
Kylian Mbappé scored 7 goals for Paris Saint Germain. He procured no assists. He received 1 yellow card and no red cards.
His team is currently 3rd in Ligue 1. In the last match Paris Saint Germain won 3-1 against Rennes.
Paris Saint Germain performance and stats
Paris Saint Germain is currently 3rd in the Ligue 1 with 15 points.
In the last 8 games, it has won 4 times, drawn 3 times, and lost once. In its last match, Paris Saint Germain won 1-3 against Rennes.
It has a positive goal difference after scoring 17 goals and conceding 7.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini
This season he played in total 5 times for 282 minutes for Major League Soccer.
Lionel Messi scored 1 goal for Inter Miami. He procured twice assists. He received no yellow cards and no red cards.
His team is currently 14th in Major League Soccer. In the last match Inter Miami lost 1-0 against Cincinnati.
Inter Miami performance and stats
Inter Miami is currently 14th in the Major League Soccer with 33 points.
In the last 32 games, it has won 9 times, drawn 6 times, and lost 17 times. In its last match, Inter Miami lost 0-1 against Cincinnati.
It has a negative goal difference after scoring 39 goals and conceding 51.
Inter Miami will play the next match in Major League Soccer against Charlotte on Thursday 19th of October in Fort Lauderdale. The prediction is Inter Miami winning the match.