The 2026 World Cup will bring together some of the biggest stars in football as well as the highest-earning players on the planet. Between salaries, endorsement deals, and personal businesses, the 11 highest-paid footballers accumulated nearly US$ 950 million in the last 12 months.
According to a survey by Forbes, the list is topped by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the only two billionaire footballers who will compete in the World Cup taking place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Cristiano Ronaldo leads the ranking of the highest-paid footballers
Cristiano Ronaldo tops the list with estimated earnings of US$ 300 million over the past year.
According to Forbes, the captain of Portugal earned US$ 235 million on the field and another US$ 65 million off the pitch. Additionally, his net worth is estimated at US$ 1.200 million.
Lionel Messi ranks second among the top figures of the World Cup
Lionel Messi is in second place with earnings of US$ 140 million, evenly split between his sporting activity and commercial agreements.
The captain of the Argentine National Team is also part of Forbes' group of billionaire athletes, with an estimated fortune of US$ 1.100 million. In the 2026 World Cup, he will seek to defend the title won by Argentina in Qatar 2022.
The 11 highest-paid footballers of the 2026 World Cup
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal): US$ 300 million.
2. Lionel Messi (Argentina): US$ 140 million.
3. Kylian Mbappé (France): US$ 95 million.
4. Erling Haaland (Norway): US$ 80 million.
