Money Talks: The Most Lucrative Contracts In Footballing History Before Ronaldo's Al-Nassr Deal

Money Talks – Football is one of the most lucrative businesses in the world, with superclubs able to fork out millions on a single player without batting an eyelid. 

Even before Ronaldo’s new mega-money contract at Saudi outfit Al-Nassr – which sees the player earn an eye-watering £175m a year – the footballing world saw a host of substantial figures. Here is a list of the top three most lucrative contracts in footballing history before CR7’s latest deal.

Neymar (PSG) – £235.8m (2017-2023)

Neymar’s move from Barcelona to PSG in 2017 is arguably one of the most iconic signings of the 21st century. His 68 goals in 123 matches for the Blaugrana club earned him a £196m move to the French capital, with the exorbitant price tag catching most of the headlines. However, this was only half the story, as Neymar signed a contract with the Parisiens until 2023 for a cumulative fee of £235.8m, which is the third most expensive deal in history.

Since joining in 2017, Neymar has won everything on offer in France, boasting three Ligue 1 titles, three Coupe de France and two Coupe de la Ligue trophies to his name. The coveted Champions League trophy has so far eluded him, although PSG are one of the favourites to achieve European glory this campaign, having made it to the final two seasons. Neymar and PSG take on Bayern in the last 16 in this competition, which many think could be the Brazilian’s last tournament in the French capital.

Lionel Messi (Barcelona) – £489.6m (2017-2021)

Lionel Messi is Neymar’s current teammate at PSG, who was bought with the aim of achieving exactly that – winning the Champions League. Europe’s elite competition is the most prestigious in club football, driving its popularity so much that the sport now features on various platforms, including video games, online slots and more. Online casinos in particular require site compilers such as BonusFinder UK, which search through relevant information to find the best options for consumers, such as low-budget and even no-deposit bonuses.

Back in Barcelona in 2017, though, a pretty hefty bonus was given to Messi to keep him at the club where he started as a youth. The boy from Rosario was paid a lucrative £489.6m over four years, making him the highest-paid footballer at the time. To the Barça board, this fee was seen as a necessary evil, given that they boasted arguably the greatest player of all time in their ranks, bringing them all the needed revenue both on and off the pitch. Since losing their famous Number 10 to PSG, though, Barça have struggled, having been dumped out at the group stages of two successive UEFA Champions League tournaments.

Leo Messi: “I’m really sad because I didn’t want to leave this club. I love Barcelona and I wanted to stay, my contract was ready. I did everything in my possibility to stay”. #Messi #FCB #FCBlive pic.twitter.com/9tUbv2aWCB

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 8, 2021

Kylian Mbappé (PSG) – £555.8m (2022-2025) 

Interestingly, all three of the players on this list are current teammates, with PSG starlet Kylian Mbappé, the man who now sits on top of the tree after a staggering £555.8m pound deal signed in 2022. The contract was the subject of much controversy, with some arguing the 23-year-old had utilised a potential move to Real Madrid as bargaining power, leveraging himself not only a lucrative deal but also wielding himself a significant amount of power at the French club.

Regardless of the criticisms, the fact remains that Mbappé now earns more in one year than what Gareth Bale did in his entire six-year spell at Real Madrid. Bale places sixth on the all-time most expensive contracts list with a £157m total deal, £28m less than Mbappé’s yearly rate. The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner and 2022 finalist is likely to be Messi’s successor as one of the game’s greatest-ever players, leading many to believe that his lucrative contract may still be good business.

Kylian Mbappe’s reported contract at PSG:

– €300M signing bonus
– €100M a year salary AFTER tax
– He will help to decide the coach.
– He will have a say on the sporting director.
– He can approve signings and sales

Staggering. pic.twitter.com/n1HIs25vxt

— SPORTbible (@sportbible) May 21, 2022

Whilst few big-money moves are completed in the January window, the summer market isn’t far away. As football’s economy continues to grow exponentially, it remains to be seen which lucrative offers are put on the table in 2023, and whether they can top the items on this list.