Once in Europe, the gravitational move of global football lay firmly. Premier League, La League, Serie and and Bundesliga were the place where the money flows and the legends gathered. Today the desert kingdom of Saudi Arabia rewritten this script. In just two years, Saudi has turned to the league into one of the richest and most star competitions in the world. With the full weight of the state and its public investment fund behind him, the league lured icons from Manchester, Madrid and Munich with contracts that dwarf anything before.The 2025–26 season is a high sign of this transformation. Ten global names now command not only stunning salaries, but also the kind of benefits that were once reserved for the royal rank – private nozzles, luxury estates, image law and ambassorial trades associated with wider ambitions of the kingdom. Yet these figures are more than just payment packages: they represent shifting loyalty, career reisted and growing power of football outside Europe.This deep dive will take you today over the ten best paid players in Saudi for the league and outline your contracts, career and impact on the game.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo – Al NASSR
Annual package: ~ $ 240 millionCristiano Ronaldo stands apart. At the age of 40, when most players are considering retirement, it remains the most valuable commercial asset of football. His agreement with AL NASSR is unprecedented: a basic salary of around $ 240 million a year, widespread by a bonus by signing nearly $ 50 million, incentives related to goals and even own capital in the club itself. In addition to the playground, he works as an ambassador to the 2030 World Cup offer in Saudi Arabia and ensures that his influence exceeds the stadium.In the field, Ronaldo is still persistent. He won the golden shoe in the back-to-back seasons and transferred Al NASSR to home fame. His performances show that the Saudi project was not just about the spectacle, but to ensure the player still capable of deciding on games. Outside the field, it embodies the global ambition of the league: no one gains attention as Ronaldo and no one justifies money spent as he is.
2. Riyad Mahrez – Al Ahli
Annual package: ~ 60 million USDAlgeria’s best export found a new home in Jeddah. Riyadh Mahrez, a man who picked up as the Premier League trophy and the Champions League with Manchester City, now earns about $ 60 million a year in Al Ahl. His contract takes place until 2027 and builds him as a club leader who wants to question the giants owned PIF.Mahrez was beneficial in Saudi Arabia. In 2025, Captain Al Ahli’s captain in the AFC Champions League, which made him one of the rare players who won the largest European and Asian club competitions. Its creativity, peace and leadership increased the team and brought recognition of continental recognition. At the age of 34, he continues to glide along the playground with the same elegance that once dazzled Leicester and Manchester.
3. Karim Benzema – Al Ittihad
Year package: ~ 58 million dollarsMoving Karim Benzema to Al Ittihad was framed as the call of Ballon d’b. Yet his three -year -old agreement, which costs nearly $ 58 million a year into a basic salary and significantly more, when commercial accessories are included, he turned him into one of the most expensive investments of Saudi football.The French striker added. In 2025, Al Ittihad led to domestic and combined a veteran with clinical completion. His quiet leadership set up a group, while his goals have silenced doubts about adaptation outside Europe. The presence of Benzema underlines the depth of the Saudi league: it is not just one super -star, but the whole galaxy.
4. Sadio Mané – Al NASSR
Year’s package: ~ 46 million dollarsThe Sadio Maneo story is one of the redemption. After a turbulent charm in Bayern Munich, he arrived in Al Nassru in 2023 with questions hanging over him. Two seasons later these questions were strongly answered. At about $ 46 million a year, Maneo rediscently discovered his form of Liverpool and combined the pace of blisters with sharp completion.He also became a perfect foil for Ronald. Together they form one of the most effective attacking duo in Asia. The maneuver from the field used his Saudi assets to finance philanthropic projects, especially in Senegal, and strengthened his image as one of the most socially conscious stars of football.
5.
Year’s package: ~ 40 million dollarsDefenders rarely the highest wage charts, but Kalidou Kulibal is an exception. The Senegalese center, which earned around $ 40 million, became the highest defender of world football when he joined Al Hilal.The balls justified the investment by commanding performance. The natural leader anchored Hilal’s defense and led them to domestic triumphs. His presence shows that Saudi clubs not only chase attackers for subtitles, but build balanced teams capable of winning titles at home and abroad.
6. Ivan Toney – Al Expert
Annual package: ~ 29–37 million USD (with bonuses)Ivan Toney’s career arch was unusual. As soon as he was at the head of Brentford, his transfer to Saudi Arabia was followed by a FA for bets. Yet Al Ahl saw his potential and offered a contract that could reach almost $ 37 million a year.Toney repaid this faith spectacularly. In 2025, Al Ahli fired at the title of Asian Champions League, scored in critical matches and consolidated as one of the most dangerous attackers in the league. His step also emphasized another Saudi strategy: to focus on players in their main condition, not only those who are close to retirement.
7. N’Golo kanté – al ittihad
Year package: ~ 29 million dollarsFew players embody humility like N’Golo Kanté, and his annual contract for $ 29 million in Al Ittihad did little to change. The World Cup winner joined in 2023 and since then has become a loser heart of the club center of the field.Kanté’s relentless energy and perfect positioning remain intact at 34 years. He helped Al Ittihad domination on the domestic market and lifted the titles of the league and the cup. Outside the playground he invested in local football, even bought a Belgian club to raise talent. Kanté proves that even the extravagant contracts can be easily worn.
8. Aleksandar Mitrovic – Al Hilal
Year package: ~ 29 million dollarsSerbian powerhouse forced the way to Al Hilal in 2023 and was rewarded with a contract worth about $ 29 million a year. His arrival was controversial in England, but transformative in Saudi Arabia.Mitrović was unstoppable: 40 goals in his debut season, another 28 in his second. His air dominance and ruthless completion made him a favorite fan. At the age of 31, he remains in his main condition and Al Hilala’s ambition still revolves around his goals.
9.Gej Milinkovic-Savic-Al Hilal
Year package: ~ 29 million dollarsNicknamed “SMS”, Sergei Milinković-Savić was triggered by the European elite before Al Hilal put in. His three -year -old agreement four times his Lazio wages and took him to nearly $ 29 million per season.The thirty -year -old Serbian midfielder was a heart rhythm of Hilal’s middle field. The goals, assistance and physical dominance have made him necessary. His combination of play with Mitrović was fatal and his form underlines the strategy of Saudi clubs to focus on players on their peak, not just in their twilight.
10. Marcelo Brozovic – Al NASSR
Annual package: ~ 26–28 million USDThe Croatian deep orchestrator will end the list. Marcelo Brozović’s contract in AL NASSR pays him around $ 26 million per season. He signed from Inter Milan, brought to the Riyadh of the Masters League and tactical sophistication.Brozović does not have to catch the headlines like Ronaldo, but his ability to control the pace and to equalize the middle of the field was crucial. In the league, it is often associated with attack on Flair shows its presence the importance of structure and control.
Except for money: What does it all mean
These contracts are more than financial subtitles – they are a declaration of intent. Saudi Arabia is no longer satisfied as a marginal player in world football. The list of global stars is a league questioning the European monopoly for elite talent and spectators.Players in their mainUnlike the early waves of football migration on the less competitive league, this Saudi experiment was increasingly attracted by players in their peak years-Mitrović, Milinković-Savić. This changes perception: for League is not home to retire, but a phase for serious competition.Impact on EuropeExodus talent has also transformed European clubs. For teams in the Premier League or Serie and with Saudi wealth, it has become a release valve and provides huge fees for transfer and relief from wages. Yet he also intensified debates on competitiveness, the migration of players and the balance of the global football economy.SpectacleFinally, the visibility of the league increased. With Ronaldo, Benzema and Mahrez on the Saudi Arabia playground, Global Eyeballs guaranteed. The stadiums are full, the right to broadcast has expanded, and for League, a place in interviews ever dominated by Big Five.
