Ranking the 10 biggest football contracts in history

Football has evolved into a game of riches over the years, especially in the past decade, with a raft of players earning handsome figures across the leagues. In addition to Europe’s top leagues, the revolution of the Saudi Pro League has also been a major turning point, with high-profile players moving in flocks to the Middle Eastern nation for exorbitant wages. Here we take a look at the biggest contracts in football history.

List of 10 biggest contracts in football history

Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)

Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami triggered a seismic impact in Major League Soccer.  Soccer in the United States gained more prominence than ever with the World Cup winner’s arrival, marked by a significant increase in attendance and sponsorship revenues. The Argentine playmaker also changed Inter Miami’s fortunes on and off the field. He transformed a lowly Miami side into a title-winning unit after ending the club’s perennial drought by lifting the 2023 Leagues Cup and the Supporters Shield in the 2024 MLS season. As such, he is also the highest earner in the MLS with a staggering salary of around €15 million per year in his two-and-a-half-year contract at Inter, higher than the wages of all of the rosters in the other teams in the league combined.

Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

In the space of no time, Erling Haaland has established himself as one of the best players in Manchester City’s history. At the age of 24, the world’s best striker is hitting mind-boggling levels, which is why he is at the top of the pyramid. He has also proved he is worth every penny the Cityzens paid for his services. In the first place, Man City had to fend off an array of European giants in the race for his signature. His profound impact at City – helping them win two  Premier League titles and a Champions League – is an indicator that he can carve out his own legacy in the coming years. The astronomical salary he is earning at City is £44,200,000 per year, making him the highest-paid player in the Premier League.

Riyad Mahrez (Al Ahli)

After weaving his magic in a prolific spell at Manchester City, Riyad Mahrez jumped on the bandwagon of high-profile players moving to the Saudi Pro League, signing for Al Ahli in a lucrative deal. The Algerian winger’s contract runs until 2027 with a salary of £45 million per year, aligning himself among the highest earners in the league.

Neymar ( PSG)

Neymar’s move to Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona changed the landscape of the transfer market, proving to be the springboard for the expensive transfers that followed. Joining Les Parisiens for a world-record transfer fee in football history, the Brazilian also became one of their highest-paid players. However, his time at the French capital was marked by consistent injury woes, though his quality and talent were unquestionable, producing great numbers. Moreover, Kylian Mbappe eclipsed Neymar as the face of the PSG with his incredible form during the duo’s final few years at the club. The Brazilian earned around an astonishing €100 million per year at PSG after signing a new deal in 2021. He parted ways with the French giants in 2023.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)

Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Juventus in 2018 was another history-altering event as he became the most expensive transfer in Serie A history. Ronaldo was the headline act after sealing a move worth 0128117 million from Real Madrid to the Bianconeri.  The Portuguese star was brought in to win the evading Champions League glory, having himself won five titles with the Spanish giants. Juve handed him a contract that saw him earn around £49 million per year and there was a huge gulf between him and the rest of the high-earners in the squad. However, the prophecy was not fulfilled as Juve’s UCL form became much worse than before, though Ronaldo was the driving force behind two Serie A titles.  Overall, the Portuguese superstar’s transfer was deemed a train wreck as Juve’s financial situation hit new lows with his presence on the salary books. He eventually ended his association with Juve in 2021, going on to join Manchester United for his second spell.

Lionel Messi ( Barcelona)

Lionel Messi was unanimously the best player in Barcelona’s history and the Catalan giants handed him a staggering offer every time while renewing his contract. In 2017, when the speculations were intense over the Argentine’s future, Barca persuaded him with a mouther-watering contract that would see him earn a whopping yearly salary of €70m as well as a signing bonus of €100 million. Although such deals gradually led to Barca’s unreal financial decline, his extraordinary performances on the pitch papered over the cracks. With the economic crisis reaching a crescendo, Barca couldn’t help but part ways with their messiah after 17 seasons in 2021.

Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)

Kylian Mbappe turned the heads of the world after signing one of the most expensive contracts in sporting history with Paris Saint-Germain in 2022. After the PSG’s main man dropped a bombshell that he would not extend his contract beyond the 2021/22 season, Real Madrid emerged as the frontrunner for his signature and considered his transfer all but done.

However, the French forward performed a surprising U-turn in the end after accepting PSG’s exorbitant renewal offer. The new two-year deal – which included an option for another year – saw the 2018 World Cup winner pocket €72 million per year, which was double the salary in his previous deal. However, the partnership didn’t last long, with Mbappe eventually opting against the additional year in the deal for a free transfer to Real Madrid in the summer of 2024.

Neymar (Al Hilal)

Neymar continued to break transfer records when Saudi giants Al Hilal secured his services from Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth €90 million, including add-ons, in August 2023. The Brazilian superstar also relinquished his journey in Europe for the riches of the Saudi Pro League, with Al Hilal handing him an astounding £86m in annual wages. Al Hilal have become an indomitable force in the Saudi league, even without the services of their highest earner Neymar, who has missed a year of action with an injury.

Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad)

Karim Benzema was one of the trailblazers whose move to Al Iiithad in 2023 set off an exodus of European players to the Saudi Pro League. After etching his legacy in the upper echelons of Real Madrid’s history, culminated in the Ballon d’Or triumph in 2022, the French striker joined Al Ittihad on a free transfer. His staggering contract saw him pocket roughly around £86 million in wages per year, making him one of the top earners.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr)

After a tumultuous second spell at Manchester United, Ronaldo still broke the headlines after moving to Al Nassr at the start of 2023, with the Saudi giants making the highest-paid footballer in the world. Saudi identified the Portuguese man as the central figure in their revolution of the football league and succeeded in their efforts, with a legion of top European players following in his footsteps. Al Nassr presented Ronaldo with an outrageous salary worth around €200 million per year, and he continues to prove his worth by breaking several records even at the age of 39.

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