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The 2026 World Cup brings together the best players in soccer as everyone hopes their country is the last country standing.
The biggest names in the sport don't all get to face each other often, which makes the World Cup such a special event. That's especially the case for the highest-paid players in soccer, who earned their money for being such incredible talents.
When the players take the pitch, how much money they make doesn't matter as much as how they perform during the match. Still, it's worth noting which players come into the tournament as global stars that have built up strong careers already.
Here's a look at the 15 highest-paid players in the 2026 World Cup.
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1. Cristiano Ronaldo
Reuters/Imagn Images
- Country: Portugal
- Professional Team: Al-Nassr
- Salary: $300 million
To no surprise, Ronaldo is the highest-paid soccer player in the world, making a whopping $300 million with Al-Nassr. Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in 2023 but signed his new, two-year extension wth the club last year, as it runs through 2027. While much of Ronaldo's earnings come through his salary, the 41-year-old is still one of the more profitable players in the world.
2. Lionel Messi
John Reed/Imagn Images
- Country: Argentina
- Professional Team: Inter Miami
- Earnings: $140 million
When Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023, he entered into a complex contract that contributes to his earnings in a variety of ways. Messi is currently playing on a three-year deal with Inter Miami worth just over $28 million a year, but he gets the rest of his earnings through endorsements, an ownership stake in the organization, and a revenue share with Apple TV.
3. Kylian Mbappe
Winslow Townson/Imagn Images
- Country: France
- Professional Team: Real Madrid
- Earnings: $95 million
The French superstar Mbappe just finished the second year of a five-year deal with Real Madrid that nets him over $70 million between his salary and bonuses. Then, Mbappe earns additional money as the next great young superstar in the sport, leveraging his fame to add on endorsements and revenue streams in other areas. Specifically, he is one of the faces of Nike's soccer division.
4. Erling Haaland
Brad Penner/Imagn Images
- Country: Norway
- Professional Team: Manchester City
- Earnings: $80 million
A star for Manchester United, Haaland was a highly sought-after player just a year ago before signing a mega extension with his club through 2034, making a salary of over $36 million a year. As a result, Haaland is the current highest-paid player in the Premier League, as both his salary and the total value of his contract well exceed anyone else in the league.
MORE: Ranking the 11 greatest FIFA World Cup tournaments by an individual player
5. Vinicius Junior
Winslow Townson/Imagn Images
- Country: Brazil
- Professional Team: Real Madrid
- Earnings: $60 million
Vinicius Junior may just be 25 years old, but he's already become a top-paid player in the sport. Vinicius is currently playing on a two-year deal for Real Madrid that is set to expire after next season, as he makes about $40 million on the field between his salary and bonuses. However, Vinicius will likely increase that number when he negotiates a new deal.
6. Mohamed Salah
Ken Blaze/Imagn Images
- Country: Egypt
- Professional Team: Liverpool
- Earnings: $55 million
Salah has been the engine of Liverpool's success in the last decade, helping the club reach two Premier League titles in that span. However, Salah and Liverpool are set to go their separate ways, with the veteran expected to become a free transfer after he and Liverpool agreed to terminate his deal a year early. Therefore, Salah has a chance to add to his already impressive earnings list.
7. Sadio Mane
Daniel Dunn/Imagn Images
- Country: Senegal
- Professional Team: Al-Nassr
- Earnings: $54 million
Mane made his mark with Liverpool for six years but currently plays with Ronaldo for Al-Nassr. Mane's contract with the Saudi Arabian team. Mane's contract with his club runs through next year and will net him over $181 million in total after four seasons overall. Unlike many on this list, Mane earns most of his money through his salary.
8. Riyad Mahrez
Jeff Hanisch/Imagn Images
- Country: Algeria
- Professional Team: Al-Ahli
- Earnings: $53 million
The 35-year-old Mahrez is another member of the Saudi Pro League who secured a large chunk of his money by signing with his new team, Al-Ahli. Mahrez left Manchester City in 2023 to join Al-Ahli, and while both he and the team were able to terminate the contract this year, it appears that Mahrez will return to Al-Ahli for $40 million next year.
9. Kalidou Koulibaly
Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images
- Country: Senegal
- Professional Team: Al-Hilal
- Earnings: $46 million
In 2023, Koulibaly joined Al-Hilal on a large contract, and the defender has remained with the team ever since. In fact, Koulibaly signed an extension with the club that keeps him in Saudi Arabia through next year, when he will turn 35 years-old/ Like most players in the Saudi league, most of Koulibaly's money comes from his contract.
MORE: Ranking the all-time FIFA World Cup winners by team
10. Jude Bellingham
Kyle Ross/Imagn Images
- Country: England
- Professional Team: Real Madrid
- Earnings: $44 million
Entering his first World Cup, Jude Bellingham is already handsomely paid at 22-years-old. The Real Madrid midfielder is reportedly playing on a six-year deal worth over $136 million overall, before even taking into account the endorsements that come with being a great English soccer player.
11. Lamine Yamal
Brett Davis/Imagn Images
- Country: Spain
- Professional Team: Barcelona
- Earnings: $43 million
Yamal is the youngest player on this list, checking in at just 18 years-old for his first World Cup with Spain. Last Spring, Yamal signed a long-term extension with Barcelona that keeps the two tied together through 2031 on a deal reportedly worth $21 million per year. Yamal is the most likely player on this list to skyrocket up the leaderboard over the next few years.
12. Harry Kane
Nathan Ray Seebeck /Imagn Images
- Country: England
- Professional Team: Bayern Munich
- Earnings: $41 million
A longtime striker for Tottenham Hotspur, Kane joined Bayern Munich in 2023 for a change in scenery following 14 years. Kane signed a four-year deal with Bayern in 2023, which gave the veteran over $115 million overall on his new contract. He is renegotiating with Bayern as the deal will expire next Summer.
13. Neymar
ukihito Taguchi/Imagn Images
- Country: Brazil
- Professional Team: Santos FC
- Earnings: $38 million
After six years with Paris St.-Germain, and two with Al-Hilal, Neymar returned to Brazil to play for Santos FC last year, and signed an extension to remain there this year. However, Neymar is one of the more profitable players in soccer and makes much of his money through a variety of endorsements. At 34 years old, he's still a hugely notable player in the World Cup.
14. Jamal Musiala
Talia Sprague/Imagn Images
- Country: Germany
- Professional Team: Bayern Munich
- Earnings: $37 million
The 23-year-old Musiala currently plays for Bayern Munich in his home country of Germany, where his salary rivals the best of the Bundesliga. Musiala played for Germany in the 2022 World Cup but will be an even more integral part of the team this year, as the Germans aim for their first World Cup victory since winning it all in 2014.
15. Ivan Toney
THOMAS CORDY/PALM BEACH POST/Imagn Images
- Country: England
- Professional Team: Al-Ahli
- Earnings: $37 million
Toney played for a variety of teams in England until he decided to join Al-Ahli in 2024. The 30-year-old striker makes most of his money through his salary, and he is signed with the club through 2028. This year will be the first time that Toney appears in the World Cup for England.
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