The Saudi League Attracts Stars: Top 10 Highest-Paid Players List for the 2025-2026 Season
The Saudi Pro League continues to establish itself as one of the most prominent leagues in the world in terms of attracting star players and their salaries, as official reports have released the list of the top 10 highest-paid players in the league for the 2025-2026 season.
The list includes prominent names in the global arena, led by the Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo, followed by the Algerian star Riyad Mahrez, who has become the second highest-paid player.
The full list of the top 10 highest-paid players in the Saudi League (weekly )
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr) – 4 million euros
2. Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahli) – 1 million euros
3. Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad) – 961 thousand euros
4. Sadio Mane (Al-Nassr) – 769 thousand euros
5. Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal) – 667 thousand euros
6. Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli) – 490 thousand euros
7. Sergej Milinković-Savić (Al-Hilal) – 480 thousand euros
8. Aleksandar Mitrović (Al-Hilal) – 480 thousand euros
9. N’Golo Kanté (Al-Ittihad) – 480 thousand euros
10. Aymeric Laporte (Al-Nassr) – 471 thousand euros
Cristiano Ronaldo remains at the top thanks to his huge contract with Al-Nassr, earning 4 million euros weekly, confirming his position as the highest-paid player in the world, placing the Saudi League in the global media spotlight.
Algerian star Riyad Mahrez follows in second place with a weekly salary of 1 million euros, making him the only Arab after Ronaldo with such a hefty contract. His transfer from Manchester City to Al-Ahli was a major turning point in his career, sending a clear message about the Saudi League’s ability to attract first-class stars.
The competition features big names
• Karim Benzema, captain of Al-Ittihad, ranks third with 961 thousand euros, continuing his strong presence in Saudi stadiums.
• Senegalese star Sadio Mane, of Al-Nassr, comes in fourth, followed by fellow Senegalese Kalidou Koulibaly of Al-Hilal.
• Notably, the list features the presence of top-class midfielders such as N’Golo Kanté and Sergej Milinković-Savić, alongside the Serbian forward Aleksandar Mitrović.
The list clearly reveals that the four top clubs in the league (Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli, Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal) dominate the highest salaries:
• Al-Nassr: Ronaldo, Mane, Laporte
• Al-Ahli: Mahrez, Toney
• Al-Ittihad: Benzema, Kanté
• Al-Hilal: Koulibaly, Milinković-Savić, Mitrović
These massive salaries underscore the scale of investment in the Saudi League, as the tournament has transformed into a magnet for the best global stars, enhancing both the technical and marketing level of the league, placing it among the most followed leagues across the globe.
The list of the top 10 highest-paid players in the Saudi League 2025-2026 reflects a true revolution in the world of football. From Ronaldo and Mahrez to Benzema and Mane, Saudi stadiums have become a destination for names who have forged glory in Europe, which reinforces the ambition to make the Saudi League one of the top five leagues in the world in the coming years.
