According to Forbes, Messi will have earned a total of $130 million by 2025, making him the second highest-paid footballer that year, second only to Cristiano Ronaldo, who leads with a staggering $280 million.
Besides Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the 2025 Forbes Football Economics ranking also lists other stars: Karim Benzema ($104 million), Kylian Mbappé ($95 million), Erling Haaland ($80 million), and Vinícius Júnior ($60 million).
Salah ($55 million), Sadio Mane ($54 million), Jude Bellingham ($44 million), and Lamine Yamal ($43 million) further solidify elite football's financial dominance.