In 2025, the highest paid player in Saudi Pro League is Cristiano Ronaldo, starring for Al Nassr. His deal is colossal—rumored to be around €200 million per year, making him not just the SPL’s top earner but among the highest-paid footballers in history.
Let’s dig into what that means in context, who comes close behind him, how this reflects broader shifts in football, and why it’s a deal that fans everywhere are still talking about. In this article, BraeckBall will walk you through the numbers, the challengers, and what it all implies for the Saudi Pro League’s status.
What makes Ronaldo top earner
- Contract value: Ronaldo’s latest contract with Al Nassr is estimated at about €200 million per season. That’s his base football salary; with bonuses, image rights, commercial deals added, some reports suggest even higher total earnings.
- Weekly wage: Translated into weekly figures, that works out to roughly €3.8 million per week under many estimates.
- Contract duration: Ronaldo extended his contract through 2027 with Al Nassr. That extension cements his status and ensures he remains SPL’s highest-paid for at least the next couple of seasons.
So when we ask who is the highest paid player in Saudi Pro League, there’s no serious debate: it’s Cristiano Ronaldo, by a comfortable margin.
Other top earners: Who’s close behind?
While Ronaldo towers above the rest in terms of pay, there a few big names in the Saudi Pro League who also command massive salaries. These stars help illustrate just how much money is flowing into the league.
Here are some of the closest challengers to Ronaldo, based on recent estimates:
|
Player |
Club |
Approximate Annual Salary* |
|
Karim Benzema |
Al Ittihad |
~ €100 million |
|
Neymar Jr. |
Al Hilal |
~ €100 million |
|
Riyad Mahrez |
Al Ahli |
~ €52 million |
|
Sadio Mané |
Al Nassr |
~ €40 million |
|
Kalidou Koulibaly |
Al Hilal |
~ €34.7 million |
*All figures are approximate, based on media reports and salary databases. Real numbers may include bonuses, sponsorships, image rights etc.
These players are stars in their own right—and they’re being paid like it. But none approach Ronaldo’s ceiling.
Why is Saudi Pro League paying so much?
The financial power behind these contracts isn’t just show—it reflects broader ambitions and shifts in global football.
- State-backed investment: Clubs like Al Nassr, Al Ittihad, Al Hilal are backed by significant funds (often linked to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund) and national strategies to elevate the league’s global profile. Big names attract viewership, sponsorships, infrastructure, etc.
- Pulling stars out of Europe: Players who once would’ve stayed in La Liga, Premier League, Serie A are now moving to Saudi for financial and lifestyle incentives. This shifts the power balance in the transfer market.
- Commercial/export appeal: With stars like Ronaldo, Benzema, Neymar, the SPL clubs are not just competing on the pitch—they’re aiming for global branding, with players as their ambassadors.
- Long-term contracts and extensions: By locking in players for multiple seasons (like Ronaldo until 2027), clubs reduce uncertainty and build stable value. Also, guaranteed wages, bonuses, perks are packaged to make contracts irresistible.
Comparisons: How this stacks against global football
Putting Ronaldo’s SPL deal in global perspective shows just how staggering it is.
- His salary (~€200 million/year) is among the highest ever paid in club football. Many top players in Europe do not reach this fee in base pay alone.
- Even other legendary names in Saudi or elsewhere—Benzema, Neymar—are getting huge paychecks, but about half of Ronaldo’s reported figure in many reports.
- It raises questions: sustainability, competitive balance, how it affects European leagues when competing clubs lose players, and how much of this comes from commercial deals vs performance/perks.
Risks and controversies
Massive salaries bring attention—and scrutiny.
- Transparency issues: Many salary figures are estimates. Media reports, leaks, and databases may vary. Some clauses (bonuses, image rights, guarantees) aren’t always public.
- Age vs performance: Ronaldo is already over 40. Can his output justify those earnings over the long haul? He’s still performing well, scoring goals and winning fans, but wear and tear, competition, and age-based decline are real concerns.
- League competition: When clubs spend heavily, there’s risk of imbalance—teams with fewer resources may struggle to compete. This can affect fan interest and league parity.
- Regulatory and financial fair play: Even though Saudi Pro League might not be bound by the same European FFP rules, similar financial pressures—sponsorship dependencies, revenue sharing, profitability—could matter long term.
Impacts on the Saudi Pro League
The arrival and retention of ultra-high-paid stars like Ronaldo is reshaping the SPL.
- Quality of play: More world-class players raise the standard—positively influencing younger local players, astroturfing coaching, training, tactics, and competitiveness.
- Global visibility: Matches get more attention outside the Middle East, TV deals, social media traffic, merchandising increase.
- Recruitment pull: Pulling in big names makes future signings easier—players see that Saudi Arabia is a viable option not just for money but for legacy, exposure, and competition.
- Expectation pressure: Clubs paying big must deliver silverware. Fans demand success—titles, continental performance. Ronaldo’s salary brings his own expectations.
Future outlook: Will Ronaldo remain highest paid?
It seems likely—at least for now.
- His contract runs until 2027. Unless another super-star signs an even more lucrative deal, he’ll stay at the top.
- But the trend is upward: more top level players are moving into SPL, more commercial revenue is flowing. It isn’t impossible that someone could eclipse Ronaldo’s deal in future seasons.
- Also, economic, political, or regulatory shifts might influence how sustainable such deals are. If financial pressures mount, clubs might need to balance big contracts with long-term sustainability.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Cristiano Ronaldo remains the highest-paid player in the Saudi Pro League by a large margin—a deal that not only pays him in astronomical wages but also reshapes what football contracts around the world now aspire to. If you want to track how this impacts league dynamics, transfers, or who’s poised to challenge Ronaldo’s dominance, keep tuned with BraeckBall.
Want to dive deeper? BraeckBall can also break down the top 10 highest-paid players, compare Salaries vs Goals vs On-pitch contributions, or check how SPL salaries rank against Europe’s Big-5. Just say the word.
