Lionel Messi has officially confirmed that he will be joining Inter Miami in Major League Soccer this summer. As a result, he’s currently not one of the highest paid footballers in the world.

Of course, the Argentine magnifico is close to joining Barcelona in Spain. However, the Culers are going through a lot financially, so he chose to join the MLS side.

Lionel Messi’s effect on Inter Miami was obvious as he confirmed his intention to join the MLS side. They actually gained 4.5 million followers on Instagram after the player’s announcement.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup champion left Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer. Therefore, David Beckham’s side signed him without paying a dime in this summer.

Messi was recently on the list of the top earners in the world of football. However, he’s currently off the list as regards his move to Major League Soccer.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabian clubs are now investing massively in football. They have literally made many players the richest in the world of football.

Al Hilal reportedly offered Lionel Messi €600 million per year. Which means he will earn €1.2 billion in two years, but the Ballon D’or winner turned down the offer.

The Saudi Arabians are planning to make their league famous in the world of football. As a result, they want to sign many European players to improve the league.

Frankly, Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante are joining Al-Ittihad in the Saudi professional league. The Frenchmen are now rolling back and forth in money.

Regardless, the Saudi Arabians are still interested in the likes of Sergio Busquets, Wilfried Zaha, and many other top players in Europe’s top-5 leagues.

Of course, Lionel Messi is not currently one of the highest paid footballers in the world. However, his move to Inter Miami in the United States of America is very lucrative.

He will reportedly get a percentage of sales from Apple and Adidas. And there’s a probability of acquiring a Major League Soccer franchise.

Who are the highest paid footballers in the world?

12. Jadon Sancho – $22.6 million per year (Manchester United)

Amazingly, the English attacker is among the highest paid footballers in the world, having joined the Red Devils in 2021.

Jadon Sancho is currently the second highest earner at Manchester United, earning £350,000 per week at Old Trafford.

Of course, the Englishman hasn’t lived up to the expectations of the fans, he has been struggling since his move to the EPL.

Sancho is currently earning more than the likes of Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, and others.

However, the Red Devils are most likely to reduce his wages when his contract expires, having signed a 5-year deal in 2021.

11. Mohamed Salah – $22.6 million per year (Liverpool) 

The Egyptian is earning close to what Sancho is getting at Manchester United, and he actually deserves the salary.

Just like the Englishman, Mohamed Salah makes £350,000 per week at Liverpool, making him the club’s highest earner.

The Egypt international deserves the wages, because he has been one of the best players for the Reds family.

Interestingly, his worth at Liverpool is most likely to rise to £400,000 per week as time goes by, he remains irreplaceable for Klopp.

In all fairness, Salah will definitely earn close to Ronaldo’s or Messi’s, if he decides to move to China or Saudi Arabia.

10. Erling Haaland – $23.5 million per year (Manchester City)

The Norwegian youngster started dining with the big boys in football, after his move to Manchester City in 2022.

Erling Haaland reportedly earns around £375,000 a week, after he signed for the Citizens in the Premier League.

It’s believed that he’s behind Kevin De Bruyne, who’s the highest paid player at Manchester City.

Haaland also deserves the money, he has been Pep Guardiola’s dangerous weapon in all competitions in 2022-2023.

His combination with Kevin De Bruyne works flawlessly for the Citizens, making waves in Europe’s top-5 leagues.

9. David de Gea – $24.3 million per year (Manchester United) 

Surprisingly, no Manchester United player earns more than the Spanish goalkeeper, he’s the club’s highest paid footballer.

David de Gea is close to extending his contract with the Red Devils, as he doesn’t want to leave Old Trafford.

The Spanish goalie earns £375,000 per week, which is above Jadon Sancho, who earns £350,000 a week.

However, De Gea’s salary is most likely to be reduced when he signed his contract extension.

Regardless, he’s expected to be among the top five highest earners at Manchester United. He may be below Casemiro and others.

8. Kevin De Bruyne – $25 million per year (Manchester City) 

Of course, the Belgian mastero is the Citizens’ highest paid player, having been above Haaland and Jack Grealish.

Kevin De Bruyne has been at Manchester City since 2015, which means he deserves such an amount of money.

At the moment, the Belgian international earns £400,000 per week at Etihad Stadium, making him the number one earner.

De Bruyne is most likely to retire at Manchester City, currently 31 years old, and he extended his contract with the Citizens until 2025.

He’s another player who may move to Saudi Arabia or China, before his retirement from professional football.

 

7. Andrés Iniesta – $31 million per year (Vissel Kobe) 

At the age of 38, the former Barcelona midfielder is still playing football and one of the highest paid footballers in the world.

Andrés Iniesta is currently earning $600,000 per week at Vissel Kobe, after signing a 2-year deal extension in May 2021.

It’s amazing to know that the Spanish magnifico is still making headlines in the world of football.

Iniesta is most likely to pen another contract extension with Vissel Kobe, so as to continue with the Japanese team.

Having been outside Europe’s top-5 leagues, Andrés continues to make millions from football.

6. Oscar – $34 million per year (Shanghai Port)

The Brazilian playmaker was heavily criticized when he left Chelsea to join Shanghai Port in China in 2017, having spent 6 years in the Chinese Super League.

Surprisingly, Oscar now earns more than many players in Europe’s top-5 leagues, particularly in the Premier League.

The former Chelsea star boy is currently making €450,000 per week at Shanghai Port, which means he’s really dwelling in money.

 

Oscar claimed that he started playing football because of his family, and he has to take care of them after his retirement.

As a result, he chose to move to China, and has been making cool money in football, being above Salah, De Bruyne, and others.

5. Neymar – $36.5 million per year (PSG)

Apparently, the Brazilian joined the Parisians for a record breaking fee from Barcelona in August 2011.

And he keeps rolling in money at Paris Saint-Germain, but he’s now below Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.

Neymar earns close to £957,000 a week at the club, making him the fourth highest paid player in the world.

However, Chelsea are linked to the Brazilian, which means he’s most likely to leave Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.

4. Kylian Mbappe – $62 million per year (PSG) 

At the age of 24, the Frenchman is the far biggest earner playing in Ligue 1, PSG’s highest paid footballer.

His contract extension at Paris Saint-Germain skyrocketed his salary at the club, making him above Messi and Neymar.

Kylian Mbappe currently earns more than one million dollars a week, and he deserves it, as evidenced by his statistics at the club.

The Frenchman almost joined Los Blancos in 2021, that was before his extension at Paris Saint-Germain.

There’s no way he can earn close to $62 million a year at Real Madrid, even though the club rates him highly.

3. N’Golo Kante – $106.8 million per year (Al-Ittihad)

Apparently, the Saudi Arabian club aren’t joking in this summer’s transfer window. They are ready to invest massively in their squad, so as to stay balanced next campaign.

N’Golo Kante’s move to Al-Ittihad hasn’t been officially announced. However, the Frenchman has an agreement in principle with the club. Which means he will definitely join them.

Meanwhile, he’s reportedly going to earn close to Karim Benzema. Kante will be earning $106.8 million per year at Al-Ittihad in the 2023-2024 campaign.

At the same time, N’Golo will earn at least €3.1 million per week. His salary is somehow close to that of his countryman. The Saudi professional league will be on fire next season.

Chelsea reportedly won’t stand in the way of N’Golo Kante joining Al-Ittihad. Therefore, he’s now among the highest paid footballers in the world of football.

2. Karim Benzema – $107.5 million per year (Al-Ittihad)

Of course, the former Real Madrid striker has leapfrogged Mbappe, as regards the highest paid footballers in the world. His move to Al-Ittihad drastically changed everything.

Karim Benzema is expected to continue his career with Los Blancos. However, he has now joined the Saudi Arabian club on a free transfer, leaving La Liga.

Frankly, the Frenchman has won every trophy in Europe as a footballer. He lifted five UEFA Champions League titles with Real Madrid, that’s a massive achievement.

Al-Ittihad are ready to challenge Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr next campaign. As a result, they decided to invest massively in signing the French international this summer.

Karim Benzema recently joined the club. He will be earning $107.5 million per year, having signed a 2-year contract. And he will earn €3.5 million per week at the club.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo $214 million per year (Al Nassr)

Apparently, the gap between the first and second highest earners is actually mind blowing. Al Nassr invested massively in Ronaldo.

Unless Lionel Messi joins Al Hilal in the summer, the Portuguese magnifico will continue leading the race in football.

According to Goal, Cristiano Ronaldo earns approximately $4.1 million per week at Al Nassr, that’s massive.

Despite the fact he spent many years with some achievements in Europe, his salary is never close to $214 million.

Ronaldo was on £365,000 a week at Real Madrid. Fortunately, Al Nassr skyrocketed his net worth in 2022.