Saudi Arabian money rules football: These are the highest-paid players in the world

Money rules the football world, now more than ever. With many top players signing for clubs in Saudi Arabia, salaries have risen dramatically.

The French newspaper 'Le Parisien' made a ranking of the top ten highest-paid players in football, and the numbers are downright staggering. Here we go!

At the top of the list is Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese forward signed for Saudi Al-Nassr in early 2023, a move that made him the highest-paid footballer in the world.

The multiple Ballon d'Or earns 200 million euros a year, and there is only one player who earns equally.

That player is Karim Benzema, Ronaldo's former teammate at Real Madrid.

Benzema plays for Al-Ittihad, where he pockets 200 million euros a year.

Neymar is the latest superstar to move to Saudi Arabia. The Brazilian signed for Al-Hilal.

The former PSG star will reportedly make 100 million euros a year, though he's got a lot of additional perks...

Read more: He demanded what? Neymar's insane requests as he moves to Saudi Arabia

N'Golo Kanté left Chelsea to go and play for Al-Ittihad, joining Karim Benzema.

Like Neymar, Kanté will reportedly earn 100 million euros a year. Not bad for the 2018 world champion.

In fifth place is Kylian Mbappé, the only footballer currently playing in Europe to make the list.

Mbappé refuses to extend his contract at PSG, but still pockets 70 million euros a year.

Lionel Messi recently made the move to Inter Miami, where he started like a comet.

It's not just about the money in Miami for Messi, who is satisfied with 'only' 45 million euros a year.

Senegalese superstar Sadio Mané claims seventh place.

The former Liverpool and Bayern star signed for Al-Nassr, where he will pocket 40 million euros, a fraction of teammate Ronaldo's salary.

Saudi Arabia dominates this list, with Jordan Henderson of Al-Ettifaq in eighth place.

The former Liverpool midfielder signed an astronomical contract in the Middle East, worth 40 million euros a year.

In ninth place, we have Riyad Mahrez.

The Algerian superstar left Manchester City to go and play for Al-Ahli, that will pay him 35 million euros a year.

Closing the top ten is yet another player who signed for a Saudi club: Kalidou Koulibaly.

The former Napoli star signed at Al-Hilal and will earn 30 million euros a year.