Saudi Arabia's top‑paid football stars: Ronaldo leads, Benzema and Neymar follow
The Capology platform has published a list of the 10 highest-earning footballers in Saudi Arabia. Of course, Cristiano Ronaldo is in first place. Karim Benzema and Neymar completed the podium.
Saudi Arabia will host the World Cup in 2034. The country has already begun its expansion into the football market, ultimately convincing FIFA to organize the next World Cup in the Arab world. In 2022, Qatar hosted a major tournament.
Saudi Arabian clubs have invested significant money to bring stars to their teams. Footballers such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Neymar are not only tasked with raising the level of the Saudi league but also increasing its popularity.
The record-breaking contract signed by Cristiano Ronaldo with Al-Nassr between 2022 and 2023 remains. The Portuguese player earns 295 million CAD per year and is involved not only as an athlete but also as a "brand ambassador" for Saudi Arabia worldwide.
Cristiano Ronaldo had been competing with Lionel Messi for the title of the best footballer in the world for decades. Before joining Al-Nassr, he played in three of the top-ranked national leagues according to the UEFA ranking. He was a player for, among others, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Manchester United.
Karim Benzema and Neymar complete the podium of the highest-earning footballers in Saudi Arabia. Al-Hilal has failed to invest in the latter's transfer. The club and the footballer have had bad luck, as Neymar suffered a serious injury. Karim Benzema and the Brazilian each earn 148 million CAD per year.
Who completes the top ten highest-earning players in Saudi Arabia? Following the already mentioned footballers are Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly, Aleksandar Mitrović, Sergej Milinković-Savić, N'Golo Kante, and Aymeric Laporte. The Spaniard's salary is 36 million CAD per year.
