Top 10 Highest Paid Footballers in the World According to CIES Football Observatory
Who are the world’s highest-paid footballers based purely on performance? The CIES Football Observatory has published a unique ranking that answers this question, revealing which stars truly deserve their salaries based on sporting merit.
According to this new data-driven model, Kylian Mbappé of Real Madrid tops the list, ahead of Mohamed Salah and Jude Bellingham. The CIES ranking calculates “deserved” salaries based on sporting variables such as playing time, match level, and starting percentage, offering a fairer view of player earnings across the world’s elite footballers.
How CIES Calculated the “Deserved” Salaries
The CIES Football Observatory created a merit-based salary model that differs from actual player earnings. Instead of accounting for commercial deals or sponsorships, the model calculates what players should earn based purely on their sporting performances and on-field impact.
This includes metrics such as:
- Number of matches played
- Level of competitions participated in
- Percentage of games started
- The player’s role or position on the pitch
Using this formula, the Observatory determined which footballers deserve the highest sporting income.
Mbappé Leads the Merit List with €22.8 Million
According to the findings, Kylian Mbappé sits at the top of the global merit-based ranking with an estimated €22.8 million in annual sporting earnings.
He is followed by Mohamed Salah of Liverpool (€17.9 million), Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid (€17.5 million), and Joao Neves of Paris Saint-Germain (€17.3 million).
Interestingly, Joao Neves, still only 20 years old, is ranked as the highest PSG player in this model, ahead of teammates Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola.
Real Earnings Are Even Higher
While CIES bases its numbers on merit, Mbappé’s real income is believed to be much higher. The Observatory notes that his actual sporting earnings are about 40% greater than the model’s figure.
This difference is explained by two key factors:
- No transfer fee: Real Madrid didn’t pay a transfer fee when signing Mbappé in 2024, allowing more funds to go toward his salary.
- Superstar effect: Mbappé’s global profile lets him monetize his fame beyond football performance, through image rights, bonuses, and branding deals.
According to multiple reports, the French national team captain earns around €31 million per year from football-related income alone.
The Top 10 “Deserved” Salaries According to CIES
Below is the CIES Football Observatory’s top 10 merit-based football salaries in the world:
| Rank | Player | Club | Estimated “Deserved” Salary (€ million) |
| 1 | Kylian Mbappé | Real Madrid | 22.8 |
| 2 | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 17.9 |
| 3 | Jude Bellingham | Real Madrid | 17.5 |
| 4 | Joao Neves | Paris Saint-Germain | 17.3 |
| 5 | Dominik Szoboszlai | Liverpool | 17.1 |
| 6 | Ousmane Dembélé | Paris Saint-Germain | 16.9 |
| 7 | Julian Alvarez | Atlético de Madrid | 16.9 |
| 8 | Lautaro Martinez | Inter Milan | 16.7 |
| 9 | Lamine Yamal | FC Barcelona | 16.7 |
| 10 | Vinícius Jr | Real Madrid | 16.2 |
This ranking showcases a mix of young stars and established names, with Real Madrid players appearing multiple times, reflecting the club’s current dominance in European football.
Rising Stars Among the Elite
One of the biggest surprises in this list is Joao Neves, the 20-year-old Portuguese midfielder who joined PSG from Benfica. His rapid rise places him among the elite earners in world football based on merit, ahead of several global stars.
Read More
Another name worth noting is Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s teenage prodigy, who already earns a place among football’s top 10 most deserving players according to CIES metrics.
What This Ranking Means for Football
The CIES model offers a unique look into how football salaries might look if they were based purely on sporting contribution, rather than club finances, marketing value, or transfer negotiations.
It highlights a growing interest in data-driven evaluations that go beyond traditional metrics. For clubs, this type of analysis could be used to better assess value-for-money contracts and fair compensation for emerging players.
Kylian Mbappé’s position at the top of the CIES merit-based salary list comes as no surprise. His consistent performances, leadership, and influence on and off the pitch make him one of the sport’s defining figures.
However, the appearance of rising stars like Joao Neves and Lamine Yamal shows how quickly the next generation is catching up. As football becomes more data-oriented, models like CIES’s might shape how salaries are structured in the future.
FAQs
Q1. What is the CIES Football Observatory?
A. The CIES Football Observatory is a Swiss research group that studies football using data-driven analysis, covering player value, performance, and market trends.
Q2. How does CIES calculate merit-based salaries?
A. It uses a statistical model based on sporting variables such as playing time, competition level, and the player’s main position.
Q3. Why is Kylian Mbappé’s real salary higher than CIES’s estimate?
A. Because the CIES model only considers sporting factors, not bonuses, endorsements, or market-based earnings.
Q4. Who is the youngest player in the top 10 list?
A. Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, who has already made a huge impact despite being just 17 years old.
Q5. Which club has the most players in the CIES top 10?
A. Real Madrid, with three players, Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Vinícius Jr.
Also Read- Premier League’s New Rules Explained
