On the eve of the 2026 World Cup, the latest list of the highest-paid footballers in the world has been released. An interesting point about this list is the significant share of advertising and commercial income alongside the players' football salaries.

🔹 Cristiano Ronaldo | 300 million dollars

Ronaldo, with an annual income of 300 million dollars, remains the highest-paid athlete in the world. Of this amount, 235 million dollars comes from football and 65 million dollars from advertising and commercial contracts.

🔹 Lionel Messi | 140 million dollars

Messi ranks second with an annual income of 140 million dollars. Half of his income comes from football and the other half from advertising and commercial activities.

🔹 Kylian Mbappé | 95 million dollars

The French star of Real Madrid stands third with an annual income of 95 million dollars. He has earned 70 million dollars from football and 25 million dollars from advertising contracts.

🔹 Erling Haaland | 80 million dollars

The Manchester City striker has an annual income of 80 million dollars, placing him among the highest-paid footballers in the world. His recent contract renewal has played a significant role in increasing his income.

🔹 Vinícius Júnior | 60 million dollars

Vinícius, with an annual income of 60 million dollars, is the fifth player on this list. 40 million dollars of this income comes from football and 20 million dollars from advertising collaborations.

📊 This list shows that the great stars of football, in addition to their success on the field, have also become powerful commercial brands, with a significant portion of their income coming from activities outside of football.