Saudi Pro League: The World’s Finest Players Chasing Record-Breaking Salaries
The Saudi Pro League has become one of the most talked-about destinations in world football, not for its historical stature, but for the unprecedented wages being offered to many of the sport’s biggest stars. In recent years, the league has splashed out hundreds of millions of dollars to lure talent from Europe and beyond, fundamentally altering the financial landscape of the game.
At the top of the highest-paid players list is Cristiano Ronaldo, whose move to Al Nassr in January 2023 sent shockwaves through the sporting world. Ronaldo’s deal, reportedly worth about £173 million ($215 million) a year, dwarfs offers from even the most elite European clubs. His arrival not only bolstered the profile of football in Saudi Arabia but set a new bar for what players could command in terms of salary.
Close behind is Karim Benzema, who joined Al Ittihad on a mammoth contract. The French striker is believed to earn around £172 million ($213 million) per year. Like Ronaldo, Benzema left Real Madrid for a record paycheque, cementing the Saudi Pro League’s status as a financial powerhouse.
Other notable earners include N’Golo Kante, who also signed with Al Ittihad, reportedly earning £86 million ($107 million) annually. Neymar, moving to Al Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain, agreed to a reported annual take-home of £129 million ($163 million), pushing him into the very top tier of football’s best-paid athletes.
Players such as Roberto Firmino (Al Ahli), Sadio Mane (Al Nassr), and Jordan Henderson (Al Ettifaq) have also made headlines for their lucrative contracts, with figures ranging from £20 million ($25 million) to £34 million ($43 million) a year. The ability of the Saudi Pro League to pay above-market wages has turned it into a magnet for star players often in the prime or twilight of their careers.
The financial outlay, however, is not just about player wages. The league’s investment in infrastructure, marketing, and coaching seeks to transform Saudi football into a global competitor. Yet, for now, it’s the eye-watering salaries that command the greatest attention.
Ronaldo himself remarked, “The Saudi league is better now. In my opinion, right now it is better than the Turkish league and Dutch league.”
The spending spree from Saudi clubs has raised questions about the global balance of power in the sport. Will these megadeals help grow football at a grassroots level in the kingdom? Or does it pose a threat to football’s traditional powerhouses in Europe?
As more icons make the move, football fans and analysts alike are watching closely to see how this ambitious sporting project will evolve and what it might mean for the game’s future.
Team V.DIR-LNK-FRM-UAE
