Top Earners and Salary Rankings
The highest paid soccer players in 2019 earned tens of millions of dollars annually, combining base salaries, bonuses, and off-field income. Forbes reported that Lionel Messi topped the list with total earnings of around $127 million, driven by his contract with FC Barcelona and major endorsement deals. Cristiano Ronaldo followed closely with roughly $109 million, supported by his move to Juventus and sponsorship portfolio. These figures reflect a mix of guaranteed wages and commercial revenue tied to performance and brand value source.
Behind Messi and Ronaldo, Neymar Jr. ranked third with total earnings near $105 million, combining his salary at Paris Saint-Germain and lucrative off-pitch partnerships. Other high earners included Mohamed Salah, Kevin De Bruyne, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, whose contracts and business activities placed them among the top paid athletes in football. The gap between the top players and the rest of the league widened as clubs invested heavily in star talent to drive global viewership and commercial growth.
Contract Structures and Club Spending
In 2019, elite players often signed long-term contracts with guaranteed wages, release clauses, and performance-based bonuses. Messi's deal with Barcelona included a substantial salary plus a percentage of commercial revenue, while Ronaldo's contract with Juventus featured high base pay and incentives tied to on-field results and brand exposure source. Neymar's contract at PSG set a record for guaranteed wages, reflecting the club's strategy to build a global brand around marquee signings.
Clubs allocated large portions of their budgets to player wages, with wage bills often exceeding 60% of total revenue. Financial Fair Play regulations shaped how clubs structured these deals, pushing some costs into sponsorship and image rights arrangements. For example, Ronaldo's move to Juventus was partly financed through a package that included commercial obligations and stadium naming rights, illustrating how clubs offset high salaries with broader business activities.
Off-Field Income and Endorsements
Off-field earnings played a major role in the total income of the highest paid soccer players. Messi's endorsement portfolio included deals with Adidas, Pepsi, and other global brands, while Ronaldo's partnerships with Nike, Herbalife, and various fashion and fragrance lines contributed significantly to his income. Neymar's commercial appeal was supported by sponsors such as Puma and Red Bull, which leveraged his social media reach and on-field visibility.
Social media presence became a key asset for these players, with millions of followers translating into marketing value. Clubs and brands increasingly tied sponsorship contracts to digital engagement metrics, making online reach as important as on-field performance. This trend pushed the total earnings of top players higher, as their personal brands became central to the commercial strategy of both their clubs and their sponsors source.