2025 Rich List: The 10 Richest Footballers and How They Earn Their Fortune

Football is no longer just about the game—it’s a gateway to global fame and immense wealth. The biggest stars in the sport have transformed their success on the pitch into sprawling empires, blending endorsements, media deals, fashion ventures, and investments. In 2025, this trend has reached new heights, with players amassing fortunes that rival those of tech entrepreneurs.

This article dives into the richest footballers in the world, revealing who tops the 2025 list and how they built their wealth. From salaries to crypto, private labels to production companies, we break it all down.

Global Wealth Rankings: A New Era in Football Economics

The 2025 rankings show a shift. The richest footballers aren’t always the highest scorers or the most decorated athletes. Their placement on this list reflects a blend of income sources—many far beyond the pitch.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo – $610 million

Despite having attained the chronological threshold of forty years, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to operate as a hyper-efficient financial apparatus, the multiplicity of his revenue streams far outweighing any attenuation of his contractual remuneration within the Saudi football sphere. The attenuation of his salary at Al Nassr is rendered negligible in light of his robust entrepreneurial ventures, which encompass a vertically integrated fashion conglomerate, an international chain of fitness centers, and a diversified hotel portfolio. Concurrently, his digital influence economy—most notably through Instagram—renders him one of the most lucratively compensated figures per unit of sponsored content across all platforms.

2. Lionel Messi – $580 million

Lionel Messi’s post-European career trajectory, notably his transition to Inter Miami, has catalyzed a series of synergistic brand alignments within the North American commercial ecosystem, most prominently materializing in revenue-sharing modalities tied to Apple TV broadcasting rights. Simultaneously, his historically unprecedented long-term endorsement alliance with Adidas persists as a foundational pillar of his income architecture, while his strategic asset diversification—including high-value real estate holdings and philanthropic-financial hybrids—continues to generate compounding fiscal returns.

3. Kylian Mbappé – $480 million

The 2024 extrication of Kylian Mbappé from Paris Saint-Germain, culminating in his acquisition by Real Madrid under financially gargantuan terms, marks only a superficial dimension of his wealth accumulation. Underlying his ascendancy in the financial echelons of modern football is an incisively orchestrated capital deployment methodology, notably characterized by early-stage equity acquisitions in emergent sport-tech infrastructures and blockchain-derived digital assets, including non-fungible tokens (NFTs), thereby interlacing athletic visibility with high-volatility venture capital mechanisms.

4. Neymar Jr. – $420 million

Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, having navigated a transcontinental professional arc from Paris Saint-Germain to Al-Hilal, has witnessed a decoupling of his athletic and economic valuation. His fiscal architecture is increasingly anchored in ancillary markets—specifically the convergence of fashion branding and digital media production—wherein his 2023 establishment of a Brazil-based production entity rapidly transitioned to profitability, evidencing an acute understanding of content monetization paradigms in the post-broadcast era.

5. Mohamed Salah – $350 million

Salah expanded his influence across the Arab world, securing multiple advertising campaigns and launching his own water brand. His consistent image as a positive, grounded figure keeps him a favorite for ethical investment funds.

6. Erling Haaland – $330 million

Haaland’s Nike deal, esports investments, and equity in fitness apps brought him major returns. He also owns stakes in multiple European fitness clubs.

7. Zlatan Ibrahimović – $320 million

Though officially retired, Zlatan’s real estate empire and minority ownership in AC Milan kept his fortune growing. His autobiography sales and podcast network also added millions.

8. Karim Benzema – $300 million

The French striker’s move to Saudi Arabia opened doors to Gulf-based partnerships. He also serves as a consultant on several AI-enhanced sports training platforms.

9. Robert Lewandowski – $280 million

Lewandowski’s healthy living brand took off in Europe and Asia. He also became a key investor in Polish tech startups and launched a media agency in 2024.

10. Antoine Griezmann – $260 million

Griezmann rounds out the list with multiple revenue streams: esports, equestrian investments, and real estate in southern France.

Factors Behind the Ranking

• Total net worth, not just salary
• Endorsements and commercial deals
• Business ventures and investments
• Real estate and ownership in other sports

Let’s look at the top 10 players who dominate both the game and global finance.

The Top 10 Richest Footballers of 2025

Here are the players who’ve turned their football fame into economic powerhouses.

Where Does the Wealth Really Come From?

Football salaries are massive—but they’re just the start. Today’s top players build layered income sources that protect them after retirement.

1. Endorsements and Sponsorships

Every player on the list has multiple brand deals. These range from sportswear giants to airlines, tech firms, and even energy drinks.

Here’s how much some endorsements bring in:

• Ronaldo (Nike, Herbalife): $55 million/year
• Messi (Adidas, Pepsi): $50 million/year
• Haaland (Nike): $30 million/year
  

According to Investopedia, many of these players also negotiate revenue share deals rather than flat fees—multiplying returns.

2. Business Ventures and Equity

Equity has become the new salary. Players no longer settle for one-time deals. Instead, they invest directly in businesses or start their own.

Some notable examples:

• Neymar’s media company, backed by Amazon Prime.
• Salah’s mineral water brand, distributed in 10+ countries.
• Mbappé’s early investments in blockchain firms.
  

The Shift from Fame to Legacy

Today’s footballers plan for generational wealth. That means strategic moves, brand control, and investment diversification. Players hire top financial advisors and PR firms to manage everything from crypto to fashion.

Here’s what that looks like behind the scenes:

1. Social Media Revenue

Players with massive followings make money off every post. One sponsored story from Ronaldo or Messi can generate over $1 million. With more than 600 million followers, they rival top global influencers.

2. Real Estate

Footballers don’t just buy homes—they build empires. Ronaldo owns hotels in Spain and Portugal. Ibrahimović invests in Swedish properties. Lewandowski recently funded an eco-resort in southern Poland.

3. Alternative Assets

Footballers have started buying assets like:

• Art and collectibles
• Cryptocurrencies
• Tech company shares
• Esports teams and gaming studios

Even Reddit threads like this one show how fan communities now track these ventures more closely than ever.

What This Means for Future Athletes

Football no longer ends at the final whistle. For modern players, it’s just the beginning.

Here are lessons from the richest players:

Invest Early

Mbappé and Haaland began investing in tech and wellness startups by age 22. This strategy paid off quickly, as the companies scaled with their names attached.

Diversify Revenue

Don’t rely on club salaries. Instead, focus on:

• Brand creation
• IP ownership
• Cross-industry partnerships

Stay Marketable

Players like Salah and Messi maintain clean public images. That opens doors to brands looking for positive associations. A few off-pitch scandals can derail deals worth millions.

Be Strategic with Location

Many players relocate not only for club reasons but for tax and brand strategy. Messi’s Miami move was about more than football—it positioned him in the U.S. media and real estate market.

Quick Look: Football’s New Billionaire Formula

Here’s a simplified breakdown of what builds a football billionaire:

Revenue Stream	% Contribution
Salary & Bonuses	30%
Sponsorships	25%
Business Ventures	20%
Media & Content	15%
Investments/Assets	10%

Most players now spend as much time managing their brand as training. It’s not just about goals anymore—it’s about growth.

The Bigger Picture

The rise of the richest footballers in the world reflects broader shifts in global economics. Athletes are now CEOs. Clubs act like talent agencies. And fans don’t just buy jerseys—they buy stocks, NFTs, and streamed documentaries.

What we’re seeing is a complete reshaping of what it means to succeed in sports. It’s no longer just trophies and titles. It’s equity, IP, and brand architecture.