At 39, Earning 200 Million Euros a Year!

The new football season hasn't started yet, but various rankings are already being compiled, such as the salary lists for players in the top five European leagues. While the Premier League dominates the transfer market, it might surprise some to learn that the "world's best league" doesn't boast the highest salaries in Europe. In fact, La Liga appears even more extravagant. However, the real salary giants are in the Middle East, where Saudi Arabian clubs are splashing the cash, making the Saudi league the ultimate destination for top-earning players.

According to sports salary websites Capology and Spotrac, Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne tops the Premier League salary chart with an annual salary of £20.8 million, followed by Erling Haaland. The top ten also include players like Casemiro, Mohamed Salah, Raheem Sterling, Romelu Lukaku, Bernardo Silva, Jack Grealish, Marcus Rashford, and Kai Havertz, with Havertz being the only player earning less than £15 million annually. Manchester City clearly leads the way, with four players in the top ten.

In La Liga, according to Transfermarkt, the top earners are Frenkie de Jong and Robert Lewandowski, with Kylian Mbappe in third. Real Madrid dominates the top ten with six players. Specifically, seven players earn over €20 million annually: De Jong at €37.5 million, Lewandowski at €33.3 million, Mbappe at €31.2 million, David Alaba at €22.5 million, Jude Bellingham at €20.8 million, Jan Oblak at €20.8 million, and Vinicius Junior at €20.8 million. De Jong's position is particularly surprising.

Transfermarkt also listed the top earners in the Bundesliga, with all ten coming from Bayern Munich. Harry Kane tops the list at €25 million, followed by Manuel Neuer at €21 million, Thomas Muller at €20.5 million, Leroy Sane at €20 million, Joshua Kimmich at €19.5 million, Serge Gnabry at €18.8 million, Leon Goretzka at €18 million, Kingsley Coman at €17 million, Matthijs de Ligt at €16 million, and Michael Olise at €13.5 million. This explains Bayern Munich's dominance, securing 11 consecutive league titles.

Similarly, Ligue 1 is dominated by Paris Saint-Germain, with all ten top earners from the club. In contrast, Serie A is more subdued, with Dusan Vlahovic leading at €22.2 million. Inter Milan has five players in the top ten, while AC Milan has none. Only seven players earn over €10 million annually in Serie A. Despite recent European success, Serie A's revenue struggles are evident in the salaries of its stars.

When comparing the salary rankings of the top five leagues, the Saudi Pro League stands out. According to Transfermarkt, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Neymar are the top earners, each making over €100 million annually. Ronaldo's staggering €200 million annual salary makes him the highest-paid player in the world. As Saudi Arabian wealth continues to flood into football, will the Saudi Pro League become a new powerhouse in the sport?