It all began in January 2023 when one of the greatest players of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo, moved to Al-Nassr, a Saudi Pro League team, following his contentious contract release from Manchester United, the dominant English football team. The Portuguese master’s move to Saudi Arabia was a trailblazing one in Asian football history, sparking media attention to the league virtually immediately.
Despite not having any hardware to show for his efforts at the end of the 2022–2023 season, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner changed the face of football worldwide by entering the “Land of Black Gold.” One of the biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world, the country’s Public Investment Fund, purchased 75% of the shares in the four original members of the Al-Ahli, Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, and Al-Nassr teams that make up the Saudi Pro League. A large infusion of cash was also brought into the league with the acquisition, allowing the teams to offer attractive financial benefits and draw in elite football players.
Karim Benzema, Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, and the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner were among the first players drawn in by the staggering payouts. N’Golo Kante, Roberto Firmino, and Neymar Jr. are among the other players from European club football who have eventually made their way to Saudi Arabia. Before the transfer market window closed, there were rumors that Egyptian sensation Mohamed Salah, French sensation Kylian Mbappe, and Argentine icon Lionel Messi would also relocate to Saudi Arabia; however, those deals could not come to pass.
In light of this, we present to you a list of the Saudi Pro League’s highest-paid football players, selected based on their yearly salaries.
Which Saudi Pro League players earn the highest salaries?
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
Annual salary in 2023: USD 210 million
Cristiano Ronaldo, arguably one of the most prominent football ambassadors and a true legend of the game, made headlines when he announced his intention to leave Europe and sign with a Saudi Arabian club in January 2023. The Portuguese maestro was widely mocked on social media, and many people dismissed him as an outdated figure. Both experts and fans agreed that Lionel Messi’s victory in the December 2022 FIFA World Cup has put an end to the long-running argument over who is the greatest of all time.
Although it is true that, at 38, he might not have another chance to win the biggest football prize, Ronaldo demonstrated why he remains one of the league’s best players in the world.
In addition to his 34 goals in 39 games played for Al-Nassr, a Riyadh-based club, in all competitions since January 2023, he played a key role in changing the face of club football worldwide. One of the world’s most competitive football leagues at the moment is the Saudi Pro League, and Ronaldo is often credited with setting trends among players who eventually relocated to the Middle East from elite European clubs.
Ronaldo reportedly has a two-and-a-half-year contract with Al-Nassr worth USD 533 million (approximately) in place, according to a report by Celebrity Net Worth. This translates to an enormous salary of USD 210 million per year, undoubtedly among the highest payouts in the world of sports.
2. Karim Benzema
2023 salary per annum: USD 209 million
Karim Benzema’s life in the Spanish capital is fantastic after leading Real Madrid to victory in the UEFA Champions League and winning the coveted title with the team. In 2022, the French marksman who was considered a lucky charm also won the Ballon d’Or title, demonstrating his exceptional performance on the field. Therefore, an incredible offer that “he can’t refuse” had to be made to entice him away from one of the biggest teams in club football worldwide (some could even argue that it is the grandest club in the world).
That’s exactly what Al-Ittihad, a club in Riyadh, did. Benzema reportedly inked a contract in June 2023 with the Saudi Pro League team, securing him an annual salary of approximately USD 209 million, just short of USD 210 million, Ronaldo’s total. On the list of Saudi Pro League players who earn the highest salaries, Benzema is ranked in the top tier alongside the Portuguese forward.
3. Neymar Jr
2023 salary per year: US$163.7 million
Big money and Neymar Jr. go hand in hand. Paris Saint-Germain paid an incredible USD 263 million to sign the Brazilian football player, setting a record for the highest transfer fee ever paid for a player. The player was previously with FC Barcelona. Neymar Jr. is still one of the most sought-after football stars and consistently garners significant media attention, despite his severe injury propensity, to say the least, and the fact that he is frequently spotted watching from the sidelines rather than playing for his team.
Consequently, it is not shocking that Neymar Jr. created quite a stir during his summer transfer window 2023–24 from the French capital to Al-Hilal. Recalling the day, rumors circulated that the Saudi Pro League team had extended an offer to the Brazilian football player for a $300 million-a-year contract. Later on, though, it was discovered that the true figure was closer to USD 163.7 million per year—still a staggering sum.
4. N’Golo Kante
2023 salary per year: USD 105.1 million
N’Golo Kante is one of the most accomplished midfielders of his generation. He won the FIFA World Cup (as a member of the French team in 2018), the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup. The Frenchman’s remarkable work rate and defensive prowess are what make him most renowned. Being one of the most sought-after players in the football community, any club hoping to sign him must of course make a sizable offer. Al-Ittihad carried out this action.
Numerous reports state that in July 2023, Kante agreed to a contract with the Saudi Pro League team that would allow him to make an estimated USD 105.1 million. Market rumors from earlier in the day indicated that Kante was considering signing a contract extension with Chelsea F.C., but he couldn’t resist Al-Ittihad’s offer.
5. Jordan Henderson
Salary per annum in 2023 USD 46.9 million
Recognized as one of the most adaptable midfielders in contemporary football, Jordan Henderson has recently played a crucial role for Liverpool F.C. The Merseyside club won the FIFA Club World Cup trophy, the UEFA Super Cup crown, the UEFA Champions League title, and the Premier League title (Liverpool won the Premier League in 2019–20 after nearly three decades) under his capable leadership. With the England national football team, Henderson has also experienced success. He made it to the 2020 UEFA European Championship (also known as the UEFA Euro) final and the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Henderson left Liverpool F.C. in July 2023 to join Saudi Al-Ettifaq of the Pro League and rejoin his old teammate Steven Gerrard, who serves as the Saudi Arabian club’s acting manager. According to reports, the Englishman and Al-Ettifaq inked a contract that calls for an annual salary of USD 46.9 million.