In the lead-up to the World Cup – the highest-paid footballers

At the upcoming Club World Cup, we will see many stars of world football. It's true that many of them won’t be in the U.S. for the tournament, but among those who will be present, we bring you the highest-paid footballers.

FIFA Club World Cup at a glance

Lionel Messi - 135 milions

Since joining Inter Miami in 2023, Messi has transformed the club’s business outlook, boosting its estimated value to 1.2 billion — the second-highest in Major League Soccer. However, his future in South Florida remains uncertain, as his contract is set to expire at the end of 2025. Reportedly, talks are underway regarding an extension, but regardless of where he chooses to conclude his extraordinary career, Messi — who turns 38 this year — remains a marketing powerhouse. He was one of only four athletes of highest-paid sports stars in 2025 to earn at least 75 millions off the field. His lucrative partnerships include deals with Adidas, Lay’s, and Mastercard.

Kylian Mbappe - 90 milions

Mbappe shook up the football world last June when he fulfilled a lifelong dream by signing with Real Madrid. He netted 42 goals across all competitions this season, but it was a somewhat underwhelming year for Los Blancos. They lost the La Liga title to Barcelona and were eliminated in the Champions League quarterfinals by Arsenal. To make matters worse, Paris Saint-Germain — the club Mbappe left to join Madrid — went on to win the Champions League trophy last month.

On the international stage, however, Mbappe reached a major milestone with France, becoming just the third player in history to score 50 goals for Les Bleus, following Olivier Giroud and Thierry Henry.

Erling Haaland - 62 milions

For the first time in three seasons at Manchester City, Haaland did not finish as the Premier League's top scorer in the 2024–25 campaign. He fell seven goals short of Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, who netted 29. Still, the dip in output — 27 goals in 2023–24 compared to 36 the season before — didn’t stop Haaland from cashing in on his success in England.

In January, the 24-year-old Norwegian signed the longest contract in Premier League history — a nine-and-a-half-year extension that ties him to Manchester City until 2034. This deal surpassed the previous record: a nine-year contract signed by Cole Palmer with Chelsea last year.

Off the pitch, Haaland continues to expand his brand with endorsement deals from Nike, Clear, and Beats by Dre, among others.

Vinicius Jr. - 55 milions

Reigning FIFA Men's Player of the Year, Vinicius Junior, solidified his star status this season by scoring over 20 goals across all competitions for the fourth consecutive year. While the Brazilian has yet to make a major impact on the international stage — with just seven goals in 41 appearances for the national team — his popularity across South America is on the rise.

Vinicius continues to attract big-name sponsors, with endorsement deals that include brands like Gatorade, Pepsi, and Dubai Tourism.

Harry Kane - 39 milions

Harry Kane has been a prolific striker, racking up 366 goals in club competitions and another 73 on the international stage. Yet, until this season, the 31-year-old Englishman had not claimed a major trophy. That changed when Bayern Munich clinched the Bundesliga title, marking Kane’s second piece of silverware with the club following a long, trophyless spell at Tottenham.

Off the pitch, Kane is the face of Skechers' football line, further boosting his presence in the global sports market.