The Saudi Arabian football season is up and running, even if the action is not taking place in the kingdom just yet.
The Saudi Super Cup in Hong Kong marked the beginning of the season for a league that is not only lucrative but also dynamic.
The man who heralded the epic transformation of Saudi Arabian football is back for more. Cristiano Ronaldo ended prolonged speculation about his future by signing a two-year contract extension at Al Nassr.
At age 40, the Portuguese superstar remains one of the biggest attractions in world football, which is why he commands a stunning annual salary (see below). But this year will be about a lot more. Ronaldo will be keen to win his first major silverware at the Riyadh club he joined at the end of 2022.
The competition, though, will be intense. Saudi Arabian clubs have grown smarter, are moving more decisively and are attracting top-quality talent at the peak of their powers, showing the kingdom is a flourishing arena for players and not a retreat for stars of yesteryear; in July Al Qadsiah signed Atalanta striker Mateo Retegui, last season's top scorer in Serie A, paying a record fee for the Italian league.
Theo Hernandez and Darwin Nunez have joined Al Hilal to add even more star power to a league brimming with it.
While football in the kingdom grows and becomes even more competitive, it is a fact that one of its strengths is the fabulous contracts that the stars enjoy.
Below are the top-earning players in Saudi Arabian football, data collected from reports, capology.com and salaryleaks.com.
Highest-paid players in Saudi Pro League 2025/26
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr) - €4 million a week
2. Riyad Mahrez (Al Ahli) - €1 million a week
3. Karim Benzema (Al Ittihad) - €960,000 a week
4. Sadio Mane (Al Nassr) - €769,000 a week
5. Ivan Toney (Al Ahli) - €490,000 a week
=6. N’Golo Kante (Al Ittihad) €480,000 a week
=6. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Al Hilal) €480,000 a week
=6. Aleksandar Mitrovic (Al Hilal) €480,000 a week
9. Aymeric Laporte (Al Nassr) €471,000 a week
10. Marcelo Brozovic (Al Nassr) €465,000 a week
11. Darwin Nunez (Al Hilal) €430,000 a week
=12. Theo Hernandez (Al Hilal) €394,000 a week
=12. Kingsley Coman (Al Nassr) €394,000 a week
14. Mateo Retegui (Al Qadsiah) €385,000 a week
15. Malcom (Al Hilal) €346,000 a week
16. Inigo Martinez (Al Nassr) €345,000 a week
17. Joao Felix (Al Nassr) €336,000 a week
18. Ruben Neves (Al Hilal) €332,000 a week
19. Joao Cancelo (Al Hilal) €294,000 a week
20. Gini Wijnaldum (Al Ettifaq) €288,000 a week
Note: Salary estimates of Kalidou Koulibaly range from €480,000 to €667,000 a week
