If you’ve ever wondered how much do Saudi Pro League players get paid, you’re about to get a deep dive. From Cristiano Ronaldo’s astronomical contract to average wages for mid-tier and local players, FreeKickSEO will walk you through what’s happening in the 2025–26 season, what drives those salaries, and what it means for football globally.
What are the top salaries in the Saudi Pro League
These are the headliners—the folks drawing jaw-dropping paychecks.
- Cristiano Ronaldo is by far the highest paid, earning around €200 million annually (≈ €3.8–4 million per week), making him one of the richest football contracts ever.
- Other big names include:
- Karim Benzema: ≈ €101.3 million a year.
- Riyad Mahrez: ~€52 million annually.
- Sadio Mané: ~€40 million.
- Kalidou Koulibaly: ~€34.7 million a year.
So, at the top end, salaries are in the tens of millions of euros annually.
Average salaries & what “typical” players earn
Not everyone is Cristiano Ronaldo—but even the “averageSaudi Arabia earns significantly more than many peers elsewhere.
- The average annual salary for players in the Saudi Professional League is about €3.6 million.
- Total payments (wage bill) across the league for recorded players is over €1.4 billion.
- Among the top 20 earners, weekly wages usually exceed €200,000 per week. These are mostly international stars, but that gives you a baseline of what elite earns in that league.
What drives the huge salaries
1. Big-name signings & star power
Clubs have been bringing in former top European players nearing end of peak, but whose global brands still carry weight. Handelbrands, image rights, and commercial appeal factor in heavily.
2. Wealth and investment
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and other wealthy backers have made the league one of the richest in world football. Clubs are being funded to compete not just regionally but to attract global attention.
3. Tax / financial perks
Players moving to Saudi often benefit from favorable tax regimes (lower or no income tax compared to many European leagues), plus signing bonuses and off-field earnings (sponsorships, image rights) included in contracts.
4. Competitive pull
To compete with Europe’s leagues and lure top talent, Saudi clubs have to offer not just money, but also prestige, ambition (Champions League / continental competition), facilities, visibility.
Salaries by type of player
Here’s a rough breakdown of what different categories of players tend to make, based on recent data:
| Player category | Approximate salary range/year | Approximate weekly wage* |
| Global superstars (e.g. Ronaldo) | ~€150-€220 million+ | €3-€4 million+ |
| Top international stars (former elite Europeans/Africans) | ~€30-€60 million | ~€500,000-€1.2 million |
| Solid internationals / aging stars | ~€15-€30 million | ~€200,000-€600,000 |
| Mid-tier foreigners & experienced pros | ~€5-€15 million | ~€80,000-€300,000 |
| Local Saudi players / younger talents | much lower; often under €1 million, depending on club, performance, exposure | under €20,000-€40,000 in many cases |
*“Weekly wage” numbers are gross and approximate. They vary by club, bonuses, image rights, and contract specifics.
These are rough categories gleaned.
Trends & changes in 2025-26
- More multi-million euro contracts are becoming standard for star players. The ceiling has moved higher.
- Clubs aren’t just spending on salaries; transfer fees are rising, and bonuses/perks (signing bonuses, off-field incentives, etc.) are a bigger part of the package.
- Smaller clubs are also increasing their budgets, though not near the top-tier names. The salary gap between the top clubs and the rest is large but gradually growing narrower, as competition for talent spreads.
Challenges and criticisms
- Sustainability: high wages need matching revenues (TV rights, merchandising, sponsorship) or external funding—in some cases, state support.
- Competitive balance: when certain clubs can offer massively more money, it risks dominance, less parity.
- Player motives & legacy: some players are criticized for choosing money over competition, which shapes perceptions of leagues.
Why fans should care
Knowing how much do Saudi Pro League players get paid isn’t just idle curiosity—it reflects how the game is changing, where the money flows, and what the future of global football might look like. It tells you:
- Which leagues are rising in financial power
- What kind of player moves are possible
- What impact this has on global competitions (Champions League, World Cup, etc.)
Conclusion
How much do Saudi Pro League players get paid? At the top end: €150-€220 million/year for superstars like Ronaldo, and €30-€60 million for top internationals. Even the average salary is in the several million euros annually, with weekly wages for many players exceeding €200,000. Local players and younger or less famous players earn significantly less—but still often more than many would expect outside Europe.
If you want, FreeKickSEO can also pull up a full ranking: top 50 salaries in the Saudi Pro League, comparisons with European leagues, and who is most “overpaid” vs “undervalued” right now. Want that?
