Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah remain Africa’s highest-paid footballers in 2026

Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah are still the two best-paid African footballers in 2026, despite the emergence of Yan Diomande and Achraf Hakimi’s status as a global star.

The latest Forbes estimates place both players in the world’s top 10 for annual earnings. Mane ranks seventh overall, while Salah is 10th, with the pair continuing to lead the African rankings.

Cristiano Ronaldo remains the world’s highest-paid footballer, with estimated annual earnings of 300 million dollars. Lionel Messi is second on 145 million dollars, followed by Kylian Mbappe on 100 million dollars. Erling Haaland and Vinicius Junior are also among the leading earners globally.

At 34, Mane is estimated to earn 54 million dollars a year, equivalent to about 48 million euros. That figure puts the Senegal international first among African players and seventh in the overall list.

The majority of Mane’s income comes from his football salary. He remains under a highly lucrative contract with Al-Nassr, where he plays alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. The Saudi club won its first league title in seven years last season.

Mane’s commercial portfolio is more limited than that of several other global superstars, generating an estimated 4 million dollars. One of his long-standing partnerships is with sportswear company New Balance.

Salah is estimated to earn 40 million dollars annually, around 35.6 million euros, placing him second among African players and 10th in the world.

The Egypt international moved to a new stage in his career this summer when he left Liverpool for Trabzonspor in Turkey. His two-year contract with the club guarantees him approximately 19 million dollars per year. The agreement also includes royalties equivalent to 20% of the revenue from merchandise sold by Trabzonspor bearing his image.

Salah’s commercial appeal accounts for a significant share of his overall earnings. His agreements with Adidas, Pepsi and Vodafone provide him with income equivalent to what he earns from football.

Despite Salah’s strong commercial profile, Mane retains a 14 million dollar advantage over his former Liverpool team-mate and rival in the annual earnings estimates.

Both players are 34 and previously shared the Liverpool attack while also competing for prominence within the team. They remain the leading financial reference points in African football.