Lamine Yamal joins list of highest-paid players for 2025 as Ronaldo tops Forbes rankings

Cristiano Ronaldo has once again claimed the top spot on Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-paid footballers, earning a staggering $280 million in 2025. The 40-year-old continues to dominate football’s financial landscape after signing a two-year contract extension with Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr.

The Portuguese icon, who became the first footballer to reach billionaire status, has now topped Forbes’ global athlete earnings list for three consecutive years. He also edges closer to an unprecedented milestone — 1,000 career goals.

His long-time rival Lionel Messi sits second with $130 million, the majority of which comes from lucrative endorsement deals rather than on-field earnings. The 38-year-old Inter Miami captain maintains partnerships with Adidas, Lay’s, and Mastercard, and recently launched his own sports drink brand.

Karim Benzema completes the nine-figure trio in third place, taking home $104 million thanks to his move to Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad. Behind them, Kylian Mbappé of Real Madrid ($95 million) and Erling Haaland of Manchester City ($80 million) round out the top five—two superstars widely seen as heirs to the Ronaldo-Messi era.

Lamine Yamal’s meteoric rise

Among the new names on the list is teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, whose incredible breakthrough season for Barcelona and Spain has catapulted him into football’s financial elite.

The 18-year-old winger dazzled during the 2024–25 campaign, scoring 18 goals and providing 25 assists across all competitions, while also playing a key role in Spain’s European Championship triumph.

According to Forbes, Yamal has expanded his sponsorship portfolio with Beats by Dre, joining existing partners Adidas, Konami, and Powerade. His combined earnings have now reached $43 million, earning him 10th place on the list.

Following Barcelona’s domestic treble triumph in LaLiga, Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup, Yamal was rewarded with a new contract running until 2031. He also inherited the club’s iconic No.10 shirt, once worn by Messi—a symbolic passing of the torch for Barcelona’s next generation.