#18 — Frenkie de Jong and N'Golo Kanté: $70 million
Frenkie de Jong (Netherlands / Barcelona) has one of the most complicated financial stories in soccer: he agreed to defer millions in salary during Barça's pandemic crisis, and those deferred payments later inflated his annual compensation. N'Golo Kanté (France / Al-Ittihad) went from French amateur soccer to winning the Champions League, the Premier League, and the World Cup — and now adds a tax-free Saudi salary.
#15 — Casemiro, Laporte, and Modrić: $75 million
Three at $75 million. Casemiro (Brazil / Manchester United) anchored Real Madrid's legendary midfield alongside Modrić and Kroos — five Champions Leagues — before his big United contract worth more than $23 million a year. Aymeric Laporte (Spain / Al-Nassr) watched his net worth take off with the tax-free Saudi salary. And Luka Modrić (Croatia / Real Madrid), one of the most decorated midfielders in history, a Ballon d'Or winner with multiple Champions Leagues.
We've reached the halfway point. #1 will still shock you.
#14 — Vinícius Júnior: $80 million
Vinícius Júnior (Brazil / Real Madrid) is one of the most valuable forwards in the world. He left Flamengo as a teenager and became Real Madrid's attacking conductor, scoring in Champions League finals. Spanish taxes eat a big chunk of the gross salary, but the sponsorship power is enormous, driven by his fame in Brazil and his highlight-reel style of play.
#13 — Marcelo Brozović: $85 million
Marcelo Brozović (Croatia / Al-Nassr) already earned well at Inter Milan, but the leap came with Saudi Arabia in 2023 — a giant salary plus a huge signing bonus, all tax-free. In just a few seasons, he added more net cash than he had saved across much of his European career.
12 to go. And the podium is surreal.