As football continues to grow in popularity and revenue, the salaries of professional players have skyrocketed. However, not every player’s salary is worth the value they bring to their team. Here are the 10 most overpaid players in football as of 2023:
1. Cristiano Ronaldo – 214M/ per year
With his transfer to Saudi club Al-Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo has become the country’s wealthiest football player, with a hefty deal that will enable him to earn 177 million per year as an AL-Nassr player, and this is just his team’s pay. Ronaldo has his own clothing and perfume company, CR7, as well as partnerships worth $60 million, making him the world’s wealthiest football player and sportsman.
2. Kylian Mbappe – 63M/ year
It took a special effort from PSG to convince the 23-year-old to continue at PSG. The result is a new lucrative €1 million weekly deal for the French midfielder. The youngster overtook Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to become the highest paid footballer before Ronaldo moved to Al Nasr. The 2018 World Champion earns €62 million a year as a PSG player and from endorsements he earns €20 million.
3. Lionel Messi – 41M/ year
Lionel Messi joined PSG on a free transfer after his surprising departure from Barcelona and quickly became one of the club’s highest earners, alongside Mbappe and Neymar. Messi’s annual salary is 41 million euros, although this is not yet the reality. The 35-year-old makes $48 million by advertising big brands such as watches, Fizzy, pop, telecoms, apparel, sports drink, beer, video games, an oil state, and crisps.
4. Neymar – 37M/ year
Neymar was expected to earn significant sums after joining PSG in 2017 for a world record fee of $263 million. The Brazilian has done well for the club, and with 37 million euros in PSG shirts every year, he is the fourth highest earner in football. As the 30-year-old frequently endorses various well-known businesses, he makes an additional 32 million dollars off the field. One of the most affluent football players.
5. Mohamed Salah – 35M/ year
Salah is the fifth highest-paid footballer, earning $35 million per year as a Liverpool player. Salah has won everything at Liverpool and also extended his contract in the summer for a significant wage boost. He also earns a lot from brand sponsorships and is one of Adidas’ top athletes, earning 18 million from promoting the firm.
6. Erling Haaland – 35M/ year
With 21 goals in 2022/23, Haaland is on the verge of smashing Premier League records. Yet, for the first time, Haaland’s efforts have paid off, as he is now among the top earners in football. The former Dortmund player makes 35 million euros per year from his teams, plus four million euros from deals with Hyperice, Samsung, and Viaplay. Rumor has it that he is ready to sign another 18 million dollar brand partnership.
7. Andres Iniesta – 31M/ year
Iniesta, one of the best midfielders in history, has long ago left Barcelona, yet he still earns money from his current club, Vissel Kobe. Iniesta, 38, is the list’s oldest player, earning $31 million per year for his Chinese team. While endorsements have brought him $5 million, the player has started his own clothing company, Capitten.
8. Robert Lewandowski – 27M/year
After departing Bayern Munich in 2022, the Polish striker is having a solid season with Barcelona. Yet the player has been true to form, as he leads the league in goals scored, and as a result, he is considered as a great striker in Europe. Barcelona had to spend 45 million euros to meet Bayern’s expectations, as any team would. The 34-year-old gets a lot of money from clubs and sponsorships. With 27 million from Barcelona and eight Nike partnerships, as well as his own clothing brand, RL9.
9. Eden Hazard – 27M/ year
Hazard has been a surplus player since his move from Chelsea, and his drop in form has been frustrating for Belgium. Yet the player more than makes up for it with his big wages from the club, as Hazard earns a total of 27 million euros each year while playing for Real Madrid. And the athlete’s off-field compensation is as intriguing, with four million dollars, given the player is featured on the cover of FIFA 20.
10. Kevin de Bruyne – 25M/ year
The Manchester City midfielder earns a lot of money and is rated 10th among football’s highest earners. Although his revenues are not primarily from Manchester City, the player supports a variety of large companies, including Nike, Wow Hydrate, Credit Karma, and Therabody. Kevin de Bruyne earns $25 million per year at Manchester City and another $25 million through endorsements.
While these players are undoubtedly talented, their salaries are not commensurate with their contributions to their teams. As football continues to evolve, it is becoming increasingly important for clubs to ensure that they are paying their players based on their performance on the pitch. With the high transfer fees and wages involved in modern football, it is essential for clubs to carefully consider the value that a player will bring to the team before making any major investments.
