Unsurprisingly, he is ahead of Leo Messi who is betting on MLS. While Neymar, who has still been injured for many months, completes the podium.
Why did Romelu Lukaku speak out now? “Important to clarify certain rumors, such as his absence from the national team”
Who are the best payers?
Another observation from the ranking by Forbes: Saudi Arabia pays well. Very good, even. Of the top ten, four come from the Gulf country. As a reminder, last year, the Saudi League completely disrupted the market by offering a lot of money for stars from the Old Continent.
Thus, the Saudis had invested more than 977 million euros in the market. This year they had to step on the brake pedal. A relative pedal all the same since they still reach a nice jackpot of 478 million euros spent for the 2024/2025 vintage, according to Transfermarkt.
Behind the Saudi League, the Premier League, the most bankable championship in Europe, places three pawns in the top 10. Finally, two players from La Liga and Leo Messi with MLS are also present.
KDB, worthy Belgian representative
At 33, Kevin De Bruyne’s bank account is well stocked. The Red Devil earned a whopping $39 million in 2024. A nice sum that breaks down like this: 35 in salary and 4 off the field.
Will Forbes still have the opportunity to keep it in the top 10 next year? Nothing is less certain. The Citizens playmaker is at the end of his contract next year. Manchester City has a habit of not offering more than one year’s contract to its thirty-year-olds. As a result, its future will inevitably raise questions in the near future.
New crazy rumor for a Red Devil: Cristiano Ronaldo would put pressure on his leaders to recruit… Kevin De Bruyne
Last summer, some rumors were already sending him to Saudi Arabia. He responded by explaining that no offer had come to the table. While conceding that he would think about it if that were the case. This is good, the rumors have already started again since then. Cristiano Ronaldo would have asked his managers to move heaven and earth to bring in one of the best players in the history of the Premier League. He will also have to convince his family to come out of the cocoon of Manchester.
Off the field, KDB also works with half a dozen brands like Nike and McDonald’s.
| Club | Income in 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) | Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia) | 285 M$ (263 M€) |
| 2 | Leo Messi (Argentine) | Inter Miami (USA) | 135 M$ (124 M€) |
| 3 | Neymar (Brazil) | Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) | 110 M$ (101 M€) |
| 4 | Karim Benzema (France) | Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) | 104 M$ (96 M€) |
| 5 | Kylian Mbappé (France) | Real Madrid (Spain) | 90 M$ (83 M€) |
| 6 | Erling Haaland (Norway) | Manchester City (Angleterre) | 60 M$ (55 M€) |
| 7 | Vinicius JR (Brazil) | Real Madrid (Spain) | 55 M$ (51 M€) |
| 8 | Mohammed Salah (Egypt) | Liverpool (England) | 53 M$ (49 M€) |
| 9 | Sadio Mané (Senegal) | Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia) | 52 M$ (48 M€) |
| 10 | Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) | Manchester City (Angleterre) | 39 M$ (36 M€) |
