Riyad Mahrez’s move to Al-Ahli, with a contract worth almost €45 million per year, has allowed the Algerian to enter the closed circle of the 10 biggest contracts in football history. Mahrez’s contract even exceeds Messi’s contract with Inter Miami.
Modern football is increasingly seeing contracts with dizzying figures. The transfers of Cristiano Ronaldo to Al-Nassr and Karim Benzema to Al-Ittihad have already set new standards. But the case of Mahrez is particularly revealing. His arrival in Saudi Arabia reflects a fundamental trend: Gulf clubs, rich in oil and sporting ambitions, are prepared to invest massively to attract the biggest stars.
For two years, Saudi Arabia has clearly displayed its ambition to become a world reference in football. By recruiting internationally renowned players, the kingdom not only wants to strengthen its domestic league, but also improve its image abroad. In the top 3 of the biggest contracts, we find those signed by Saudi clubs.
Top 10 biggest contracts in the world of football
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nasr)
In January 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo signed with Al-Nassr, a contract worth €202.25 million per year, placing him at the top of the highest-earning players. - Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad)
Karim Benzema’s transfer to Al-Ittihad also caused a stir, with an annual salary of 200 million euros, placing him just behind Ronaldo. - Neymar Jr. (Al-Hilal)
Neymar signed a €101 million per year contract with Al-Hilal, reserving his place in the top three. - Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain)
Before his departure, Mbappé was earning a salary of 72 million euros per year, which placed him in the top of the contracts. - Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
Although his contract with FC Barcelona was seen as the biggest folly in modern football, Messi is only 5th, with a salary of 71.80 million euros per year. - Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Ronaldo appears in this ranking for the second time, with his previous contract at Juventus. He then received an annual salary of 58 million euros, or 111,644 euros per week. - Neymar Jr. (Paris Saint-Germain)
Neymar also appears twice in this top 10, thanks to his contract with PSG, where he earned 56.99 million euros per year, or 923,112 euros per week. - Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahli): The real surprise in this ranking is the presence of Riyad Mahrezwho is in eighth place with a contract worth €52.79 million per year, signed with Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia. The contract, which runs until 2027, ensures him a weekly income of €101,512.
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Norwegian prodigy Erling Haaland is ranked ninth. Since joining Manchester City in 2022, he has earned an annual salary of €52.48 million, equivalent to €100,921 per week. - Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
Finally, Lionel Messi also appears twice in this list, this time for his contract with Inter Miami in MLS. Although his annual salary of €46 million, or €890.48 per week, is lower than his European contracts, it remains one of the most remarkable contracts in current football.
