Top 10 Soccer Players in the World by Salary
Written by Salary SpecialistJanuary 30, 2026
Grab your lozhkas and drink of choice (and toast to brighter days for the U.S. Team) -- The 2018 FIFA World Cup is finally here! The great games began on Thursday afternoon as host country Russia defeated Saudi Arabia 5-0 at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. As the tournament unfolds, so will rambunctious debate about the top players in the world. We’ll leave those rankings to you and your brethren as you stumble to the sports pub. But, based on Forbes’ Highest-Paid Soccer Players and Highest-Paid Athletes, we’d like to show you the money the world’s greatest soccer players are earning for their efforts on the pitch.
Here are the top 10 players in the world by salary and bonuses, no endorsements:
1) Lionel Messi
Team: FC Barcelona*
Country: Argentina*
Total compensation: $84 million
2) Neymar
Team: Paris Saint-Germain
Country: Brazil
Total compensation: $73 million
3) Cristiano Ronaldo
Team: Real Madrid
Country: Portugal
Total compensation: $61 million
4) Gareth Bale
Team: Real Madrid
Country: Wales
Total compensation: $28.6 million
5) Oscar
Team: Shanghai SIPG
Country: Brazil
Total compensation: $25.9 million
6) PaulPogba
Team: Manchester United
Country: France
Total compensation: $25 million
7) Wayne Rooney
Team: Everton
Country: England
Total compensation: $22 million
8) Thiago Silva
Team: Paris Saint-Germain
Country: Brazil
Total compensation: $21.4 million
9) Grazuabi Pellè
Team: Shandong Luneng
Country: Italy
Total compensation: $21.1 million
10) Hulk
Team: Brazil
Country: Shanghai SIPG
Total compensation: $21 million
*Team refers to the professional football club to which the player is currently signed
*Country refers to the national team the player is representing in the World Cup
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