15 Highest-Paid Players in World Football

Virgil van Dijk was a transformative signing for Liverpool back in January 2018. Eyebrows were raised when the Reds paid Southampton £75 million (an eye-watering figure at the time), but the colossal Dutch defender proved to be worth every penny.

Now 35, Van Dijk is slowly coming towards the end of his glittering career. His current contract is set to expire at the end of the 2026-27 campaign.

Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)

£363,187 per week

Lionel Messi is now in the winter of his career but remains one of the world's highest-paid footballers. The legendary Argentina forward, 39, could have earned far more in Saudi Arabia after leaving Paris Saint-Germain in 2023, but decided to move his family to the United States instead.

Messi still earns an absolute fortune when you take his off-field earnings into consideration, but his Inter Miami wage is a slightly more modest £18.9 million a year - or £363,187 per week.

Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)

£371,416 per week

Jamal Musiala is only 23 but put pen to paper on a lucrative contract with Bayern Munich in February 2025, tying him to the Allianz Arena until June 2030. The Germany international missed a large chunk of the 2025-26 campaign through injury but will be desperate to rediscover his best form in 2026-27.

There are few better attacking midfielders in world football than Musiala, who represented England at various youth levels before committing his senior international career to Germany in 2021.

Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)

£372,880 per week

It's hard to believe that Lamine Yamal is still a teenager, considering the incredible success he has enjoyed in professional football. The electric winger was handed his Barcelona debut back in 2023, and he has gone from strength-to-strength ever since.

The 19-year-old, who has won three La Liga titles at Barcelona, while also winning Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup with Spain, earns £372,880-per-week at his boyhood club. That almost feels like a bargain for Barcelona, given just how frighteningly good their star man is.

Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)

£400,317 per week

Harry Kane has exceeded all expectations since joining Bayern Munich from Tottenham in 2023. Bayern legend Uli Hoeness described the Englishman as the "best transfer we’ve ever made" and, when you look at his incredible numbers, it's hard to disagree.

Since joining the Bavarian giants, Kane has scored a remarkable 156 goals in 161 appearances. He's won the Bundesliga twice and lifted the German Cup. A week after winning the 2026 Ballon d'Or, Kane put pen-to-paper on a new contract extension with Bayern that keeps him at the club until 2029. A consummate professional, Kane's hefty salary has been worth every penny for Bayern Munich.

Ollie Watkins (Al-Hilal)

£406,719 per week

Despite his long and successful stint at Aston Villa, Watkins was so desperate to leave the club for the Saudi Pro League in the summer of 2026 that he refused to play in their opening Premier League game of the 2026/27 campaign against Brighton & Hove Albion.

A few days after that match, which Villa lost 4-0, Watkins completed a £51m to Al-Hilal. Watkins became one of the highest-paid players in the world in the process, with his weekly wage soaring to £406,719 per week.

Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli)

£415,016 per week

The highest-paid English footballer right now is Ivan Toney. The 30-year-old left Brentford for the riches of Saudi Arabia in 2024 and has significantly boosted his bank balance as a result.

Toney has been prolific for Al-Ahli, so the lucrative contract has been justified in that sense. The move to Saudi hasn't impacted his international opportunities, either, with Thomas Tuchel including him in his 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup finals.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Al-Hilal)

£415,016 per week

Once touted as a potential future superstar of European football, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has fallen a little short of the hype he generated early in his career, but that hasn't prevented him from cashing in - particularly since switching Lazio for Al-Hilal in 2023.

Now 31 years old, the Serbia international has a contract with his Saudi Arabian employers that lasts until 2028. A return to Europe after that is possible, but he'd be required to take an enormous pay cut.

Rodri (Barcelona)

£440,558 per week

After a torrid time with injuries, Rodri reminded the world of what an extraordinary player he is during the 2026 World Cup. The Villarreal academy graduate was named as the Golden Ball winner as Spain were crowned world champions for a second time.

Following the World Cup, Real Madrid and Barcelona went head-to-head for Rodri's signature. The dominant midfielder chose to join the latter as he completed a £65m move, signing a huge £440,558 per week deal.

Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)

£508,399-per-week

Vinicius Jr was strongly linked with a shock move to Arsenal this summer, but signed a six-year contract extension with Real Madrid, tying him down at the Bernabeu until 2032.

The Brazilian's wage rocketed to £508,399 a week, making him one of the world's highest-paid footballers in the process. Still only 26 years old, Vini Jr will be focused on helping Real Madrid get back to winning ways under Jose Mourinho following a rare trophyless season.

Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)

£508,399-per-week

Kylian Mbappe is arguably the biggest star in global football right now. The 27-year-old became the World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer this summer and has also been prolific for Real Madrid since joining the Spanish giants from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024.

The highly-marketable Mbappe, who also earns an astonishing amount of money away from the pitch, will surely end his career as one of the greatest players football has ever produced. However, he's still yet to get his hands on the coveted Ballon d'Or award.

Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

£525,000-per-week

Erling Haaland is arguably the world's best striker for one simple reason: he's the best at putting the ball in the back of the opponent's net. The Norwegian has set the world alight ever since he graced the Premier League with his presence. He smashed the goalscoring record for a single season, scoring 36 times in only 35 appearances during his debut campaign in England's top division.

Haaland, every defender's worst nightmare, has continued to shatter multiple records with ease. For that reason alone, he fully deserved the rare 10-year contract Man City handed him in January 2025.

Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal)

£564,526-per-week

Yes, a centre-back really is the fourth highest-paid player in world football right now. Kalidou Koulibaly is a top-level central defender but £564.5k a week is an exorbitant amount of money for the former Napoli and Chelsea star.

Then again, Al-Hilal are one of several Saudi Pro League clubs with money to burn. They'll also point to the fact that Koulibaly has helped them to win five trophies so far, including one league title.

Sadio Mane (Al-Nassr)

£650,751-per-week

Sadio Mane is currently the world's second highest-paid footballer, earning a staggering amount of money with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr. Now 34 years old, Mane is cashing in during the autumn of his career.

A Liverpool great, Mane excelled at Anfield under Jurgen Klopp before an ill-fated move to Bayern Munich in 2022. He lasted just one season with the Bundesliga giants before Al-Nassr approached with a life-changing contract.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr)

£3,390,412 per week

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest players to have ever played the game. The Portuguese talisman was the first high-profile star to make the move to Saudi Arabia before everyone else followed, making him a trailblazer. After an underwhelming second spell at Manchester United, Ronaldo made the untrodden move to Saudi Arabia and Al-Nassr.

He became football's first billionaire in 2025, thanks in part to his enormous Al-Nassr wages. Nobody in world football earns close to Ronaldo in terms of direct earnings from a club. At 41 years old, that's some going.

All wage figures per Capology, via Planet Football, unless stated otherwise. Correct as of 05/11/26.