Ahead of the next El Clásico, the Spanish publication AS has released a ranking of the highest-paid footballers of Madrid's Real and Barcelona in 2026. The leader of the list is French forward Kylian Mbappé, whose annual salary exceeds 31 million euros. This is reported by World Football.
1. Kylian Mbappé — 31.25 million euros per year
Real Madrid's forward Kylian Mbappé topped the ranking with a salary of 31.25 million euros per year. Since joining the Madrid club, the Frenchman has become not only the team's star but also the highest-paid player among the two giants of La Liga.
2. Vinícius Júnior — 25 million euros per year
Brazilian winger Vinícius Júnior came in second on the list with a salary of 25 million euros. In Real, he remains one of the key attacking players and one of the club's main marketing faces.
3. David Alaba — 22.5 million euros per year
Austrian defender David Alaba ranked third. The experienced player earns 22.5 million euros a season at the Madrid club, remaining one of the highest-paid defenders in Europe.
4. Robert Lewandowski — 20.83 million euros per year
Barcelona's striker Robert Lewandowski is the highest-paid player of the Catalan club. The Polish forward earns 20.83 million euros per season and continues to be one of the team's top scorers.
5. Jude Bellingham — 20.83 million euros per year
English midfielder Jude Bellingham also earns 20.83 million euros per year. After joining Real, he quickly became one of the team's leaders and a key player in midfield.
6. Frenkie de Jong — 19 million euros per year
Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong ranks sixth in the list with a salary of 19 million euros. Despite Barcelona's financial difficulties, he remains one of the highest-paid players in the club.
7. Federico Valverde — 16.67 million euros per year
Real Madrid's midfielder Federico Valverde is among the players with a salary of 16.67 million euros per season. The Uruguayan is considered one of the team's most versatile players.
8. Lamine Yamal — 16.67 million euros per year
The young talent of Barcelona, Lamine Yamal, has already entered the ranks of the club's highest-paid players. In 2026, his annual income is estimated at 16.67 million euros.
9. Raphinha — 16.67 million euros per year
Brazilian winger Raphinha also earns 16.67 million euros per season as part of the Catalan club. He remains an important element of Barcelona's attacking line.
10. Trent Alexander-Arnold — 16.67 million euros per year
Closing the top ten highest salaries is Trent Alexander-Arnold. The English footballer earns 16.67 million euros a year and is among the most expensive players of his generation.
Earlier, we reported how much Cristiano Ronaldo earns daily and monthly as a footballer.