Football's new frontier: Top earnings in Saudi Arabia and World Cup 2034
The Capology platform has published a list of the ten highest-earning footballers in Saudi Arabia. Unsurprisingly, Cristiano Ronaldo tops the list. Karim Benzema and Neymar completed the podium.
Saudi Arabia will host the World Cup in 2034. Having already begun its expansion into the football market, it has convinced FIFA to organise the next World Cup in the Arab world. Qatar hosted the major tournament in 2022.
Saudi Arabian clubs have invested considerable money to attract stars to their teams. Footballers such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Neymar are not only tasked with improving the level of the Saudi league but also increasing its popularity.
The record-breaking contract signed by Cristiano Ronaldo with Al-Nassr between 2022 and 2023 remains. The Portuguese player earns approximately €214 million per year. Cristiano Ronaldo is involved not only as an athlete but also as a "brand ambassador" for Saudi Arabia worldwide.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been competing with Lionel Messi for the title of the best footballer in the world for decades. Before joining Al-Nassr, he played in three top-ranked national leagues according to the UEFA ranking. He played for Real Madrid, Juventus, and Manchester United.
Karim Benzema and Neymar complete the podium of the highest-earning footballers in Saudi Arabia. Al-Hilal has failed to invest in the latter's transfer. The club and the footballer have had bad luck, as Neymar suffered a serious injury. Karim Benzema and the Brazilian each earn approximately €107 million per year.
Who completes the top ten highest-earning players in Saudi Arabia? Following the already mentioned footballers are Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly, Aleksandar Mitrović, Sergej Milinković-Savić, N'Golo Kante, and Aymeric Laporte. The Spaniard's salary is around €26 million per year.
