Who Are The Highest Paid Players At The FIFA Club World Cup?

The Club World Cup is finally upon us and is well underway, serving as a tournament that’s been quietly looming over the football calendar for much of the season. However, the major talking point hasn’t necessarily been the football itself, but the sheer volume of games being demanded from the sport’s highest-paid elite.

Yes, these players are handsomely compensated. Yes, they travel in luxury. But even so, adding up to seven more games to an already packed schedule feels like a lot, no matter how fat the pay cheque may be. The millions they earn are reason enough, though, right? That’s the argument. But it’s not a holistic picture.

What makes the Club World Cup uniquely fascinating is the contrast. Not every team in the tournament is a cash-rich European or Saudi superpower. Take New Zealand’s Auckland City, for example, a part-time side whose squad includes forklift drivers, real estate agents, and a warehouse manager. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of the highest-paid players taking part in this year’s Club World Cup, and the numbers are staggering.

Highest Earning Player

Top of the earnings list is Al Hilal centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly. The former Napoli and Chelsea man reportedly earns €667,308 per week, totalling €34,700,000 per year. It’s a huge salary, reflecting the Saudi Pro League’s push to bring in top-tier talent and pay premium money to do so. He helped Senegal win the Africa Cup of Nations in 2022 and Napoli lift the Italian Cup in 2020 and he leads this tournament’s financial rankings.

Closely behind is Manchester City’s goal machine, Erling Haaland. His new long-term deal, which runs until 2034, sees him earning €615,617.63 a week, and roughly €32,012,116.50 per year. That contract length is rare in football, but for City, locking down one of the game’s most lethal strikers for a decade makes both financial and footballing sense.

Given some of Haaland's struggles this season, it's interesting to note that a quick check with our bet calculator suggests a Manchester City CWC title win and the Norwegian being top scorer would return £605 off a bet of just £10.

Real Madrid’s marquee signing sits third in Kylian Mbappé, who earns €600,962 per week, which works out to €31,250,000 annually. Having long been one of the sport’s most marketable and exciting talents, his wage reflects not only his talent but his commercial draw. England’s captain Harry Kane takes home €480,769 per week and €25,000,000 per year. His move to Bayern Munich marked a new chapter in his career, and while he failed to score in their 10–0 opener against Auckland City, Kane will be determined to find the net against Boca Juniors this Friday in Miami.

Tied with Kane in both weekly and annual earnings is Sergej Milinković-Savić. The Serbian midfielder also earns €480,769 per week, bringing in €25,000,000 a year. He’ll play a key role for Al Hilal, alongside João Neves in midfield, as the Saudi club aims to make a statement on the world stage.

A long-serving figure at the top level is David Alaba, who continues to command a significant wage of €432,692 per week, and €22,500,000 per year. His consistency and versatility make him a valuable asset in Bayern’s system under Vincent Kompany. Despite being in the twilight of his career, Manuel Neuer still pulls in €403,846 per week, totalling €21,000,000 a year. He remains one of the most respected goalkeepers of his generation.

Jan Oblak earns €400,577 per week and €20,830,000 per year, making him one of the highest-paid goalkeepers in the game. His shot-stopping ability and reliability have long made him a cornerstone of Atlético’s back line. Tied with Oblak is Jude Bellingham who is only 21, but already a key figure in Madrid’s midfield. He also earns €400,577 per week, adding up to €20,830,000 annually. Considering his age and impact, his value is only set to rise.

Biggest Wage Budget

When it comes to the clubs with the highest wage bills in world football, it’s no surprise that Real Madrid tops the list. With a star-studded squad featuring Vinícius Júnior, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kylian Mbappé, Thibaut Courtois, and Jude Bellingham, their total gross annual wage bill currently sits at a staggering €279,210,000.

Close behind are Bayern Munich, whose world-class lineup, including England captain Harry Kane, Michael Olise, Jamal Musiala, and Joshua Kimmich, which sees their wage bill stand at €274,480,000 per year.

In third place is Manchester City, with a wage bill of €263,523,743.03, the highest in the Premier League. Unsurprisingly, Chelsea follow in fourth, paying out €196,203,488.68 annually. Just behind them are reigning Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain, whose star-heavy roster comes with a yearly cost of €192,240,000.

Rounding out the top ten are Al-Hilal (€176,960,000), Atletico Madrid (€176,960,000), Inter Milan (€140,710,000), Borussia Dortmund (€113,630,000), and Juventus (€109,620,000).

The FIFA Club World Cup is proving to be a contentious competition amongst football fans and the media alike. Huge scrutiny has been shone on the tournament creators, the purpose of the tournament and its merits. Billions have gone into making it a success, and it’s seemingly not going anywhere, and with that will come more money than ever being pumped into the game.

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