In his career, Lionel Messi has conquered 46 trophies, which is the highest number of trophies won by any soccer player to have ever laced up a pair of cleats. That he will extend that total at the FIFA Club World Cup is a long shot–as the competition kicks off on Saturday, his Inter Miami team is 65-to-1 to lift the trophy–but either way, there is one accolade that the 37-year-old Argentine superstar has sewn up.
The highest-paid player to wear the jersey in the Club World Cup is Messi, who has an estimated earning of $135 million in the last 12 months (pre-tax and pre-agents). His on-field earnings comprise of his salary and bonuses earned throughout his playing career totaling $60 million, and his endorsement, appearance and other business ventures earning him a total of $75 million.
Other high earners set to attend the event with Messi are Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbapp, who is estimated to earn $90 million; Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, $62 million Mbappes Madrid teammate Vinicius Jr., a forward earning $55 million and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, who will earn $39 million.
The five players who combine to enjoy the Club World Cup have made an estimated $381 million in the last one year.
The intersection of high-paid stars is the direct consequence of the new structure of the tournament, which will kick off on June 14, as Inter Miami, led by Messi, will play against the Egyptian Premier League club Al Ahly. Previously, the Club World Cup used to be an annual Competition involving seven teams. This time, FIFA has increased the event to 32 clubs and it will be held after every four years, similar to its counterpart international World Cup.
The prize money has been cranked up by FIFA, too, to $1 billion, including $125 million to the winning team, which is a mind-boggling rise on the total kitty of $16 million and winner-takes-all of 5 million the previous time the tournament was held, in 2023. But not every bit of that money will wind up in the pockets of players.
As an example, with the collective bargaining agreement under MLS, the players in the league are only entitled to 50 percent of the funds gathered outside tournaments and limited to $1 million per team.
The MLS Players Association is seeking an increase in the % take on the Club World Cup and players in the Seattle Sounders FC have gone public with their discontent but as the event is set to commence there has been no change in the agreement that was agreed upon. In the meantime, Real Madrid has vowed to give every one of its players 1 million euros (1.1 million dollars) in the event that they claim the title, Spanish daily Marca reports.
The additional games on an already-congested calendar are not exciting to players either. Although he admitted that clubs may require additional funds to meet the ever-increasing salaries of players, Kane told in March that there is a player welfare limit beyond which there can only be so many injuries and so many instances of that. I’m not sure that the players are that often listened to, if I am completely honest, but everyone wants their bit, their tournament, their prize and the players are the ones who have to make it work.”
Included in the past 12 months an estimated $39 million, midfielder Kevin De Bruyne would have tied Kane on the list of the Club World Cup highest paid players had he been at the event with Manchester City, where he has spent the last 10 seasons.
Rather, he signed with Napoli on a free transfer on Thursday but the 33-year-old Belgian had already indicated he had no intention of playing in the event. With rumours swirling regarding his future whereabouts, De Bruyne himself mentioned just before the Club World Cup: “I must take care of myself because if I get injured in the Club World Cup, what will I do? At that age, no one is going to look after me.”
#1. $135 Million
Lionel Messi
Age: 37 | Club: Inter Miami | Nationality: Argentina
Earnings: On-Field – $60 million • Off-Field – $75 million
Since joining Inter Miami in 2023, Lionel Messi has not only elevated the team’s performance but also significantly boosted its business value, with the club now valued at $1.2 billion—making it the second most valuable franchise in MLS. Although his contract runs through the end of 2025, Messi’s future in South Florida remains uncertain.
Negotiations for an extension are reportedly underway, but wherever he ultimately chooses to conclude his remarkable career, Messi will continue to be a dominant marketing presence. Turning 38 this month, he is one of only four athletes on Forbes’ 2025 list to earn over $75 million from endorsements alone. His high-profile partnerships include Adidas, Lay’s, and Mastercard.
#2. $90 Million
Kylian Mbappé
Age: 26 | Club: Real Madrid | Country: France
Earnings: On-Field – $70 million • Off-Field – $20 million
Kylian Mbappé made a big move last June when he joined Real Madrid, fulfilling his dream. He scored 42 goals this season, but the team didn’t win La Liga, losing to Barcelona. They also got knocked out of the Champions League in the quarterfinals by Arsenal. Meanwhile, his old team, Paris Saint-Germain, won the Champions League trophy. For France, Mbappé reached a big milestone by scoring 50 goals, joining famous players Olivier Giroud and Thierry Henry.
#3. $62 Million
Erling Haaland
Age: 24 | Club: Manchester City | Country: Norway
Earnings: On-Field – $48 million • Off-Field – $14 million
Erling Haaland didn’t score as many goals this season as before. He scored fewer goals than Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, who led the Premier League with 29. Even so, Haaland signed a record-long contract with Manchester City, keeping him at the club until 2034. Off the field, he has deals with brands like Nike, Clear, and Beats by Dre.
#4. $55 Million
Vinicius Jr.
Age: 24 | Club: Real Madrid | Country: Brazil
Earnings: On-Field – $40 million • Off-Field – $15 million
Vinicius Jr. won the FIFA Men’s Player of the Year award and scored over 20 goals this season for the fourth year in a row. Although he has scored only 7 goals for Brazil in 41 games, he is becoming very popular in South America. He works with big brands like Gatorade, Pepsi, and Dubai Tourism.
#5. $39 Million
Harry Kane
Age: 31 | Club: Bayern Munich | Country: England
Earnings: On-Field – $29 million • Off-Field – $10 million
Harry Kane has scored many goals—366 for clubs and 73 for England. But he had never won a major trophy until this year when Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga. He used to play for Tottenham Hotspur for many years. He also represents Skechers’ soccer products.
