Lamine Yamal has become the youngest player among Forbes’ top 10 highest-paid footballers.
He joins Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Mbappé with annual earnings of $43 million.
Barcelona’s 18-year-old star Lamine Yamal has made history as the youngest footballer to feature among the world’s top 10 highest-paid players for 2025.
The 18-year-old Spain international joined the elite list after Forbes estimated his annual earnings at $43 million, following the signing of a new 10-year contract with Barcelona. This marks the first time in over two decades that a player under 19 has appeared on the ranking.
At the top of the list is Al Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who remains the world’s highest-paid footballer. The Portuguese star is projected to earn around $280 million in the next year from his club salary, bonuses, and endorsement deals, according to Forbes.
The report noted that the figures represent on-field income, including base pay, performance bonuses, and club-related image rights.
Below is Forbes’ list of the top 10 highest-paid footballers in 2025:
- Cristiano Ronaldo – $280 million
- Lionel Messi – $130 million
- Karim Benzema – $104 million
- Kylian Mbappé – $95 million
- Erling Haaland – $80 million
- Vinícius Júnior – $60 million
- Mohamed Salah – $55 million
- Sadio Mané – $54 million
- Jude Bellingham – $44 million
- Lamine Yamal – $43 million
