20 Highest-Paid South American Footballers in the World [2025]

Summary

Casemiro sits as the highest earning South American player.

Vinicius Junior just misses out on top spot.

Lionel Messi sits outside the top 15 following his Inter Miami move.

South America is the spiritual home of football, where the sport is perhaps played in its most joyous fashion. For some, it’s an expression of their identity. For others, it’s an escape from dangerous surroundings and the hope of a brighter future. What can’t be denied, though, is that it is a breeding ground for some of the best and most entertaining players on the planet.

As such, when it comes time for those stars to make a name for themselves in the professional game as some of the best, they are always going to be financially remunerated for their talents, as is the way in modern football. However, these 20 stand head and shoulders above the rest of South America with their incredible earnings.

20-11

There are a number of incredible talents that just miss out on the top 10, starting with centre-back pair Ronald Araujo and Cristian Romero, who both earn upwards of £160k per week. Above them sits one of the Premier League’s most expensive players, Enzo Fernandez, and Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli, who earn £180,000 per week.

The greatest footballer to have ever played the game sits down in 16th, though best believe that in his prime, Lionel Messi would’ve been right at the top of this list. New Al-Ahli signing Galeno has profited from his recent move, while La Liga stars Raphinha and Rodrygo sit in 13th and 14th respectively. The bottom half of the rankings finishes off with two men with experience at the very top of the game, Paulo Dybala and Fabinho, both of whom are well clear of the £200,000 mark.

Highest Paid South American Players 20-11 [2025]

Rank

Player

Nationality

Club

Start Date

Expiry Date

Wage (£)

11.

Fabinho

Brazil

Al-Ittihad

31/07/2023

30/06/2026

224,220 p/w

12.

Paulo Dybala

Argentina

AS Roma

17/01/2025

30/06/2026

207,563 p/w

13.

Raphinha

Brazil

Barcelona

13/07/2022

30/06/2027

200,196 p/w

14.

Rodrygo

Brazil

Real Madrid

02/11/2023

30/06/2028

200,196 p/w

15.

Galeno

Brazil

Al-Ahli

31/01/2025

30/06/2028

187.864 p/w

16.

Lionel Messi

Argentina

Inter Miami

15/07/2023

31/12/2025

184,063 p/w

17.

Gabriel Martinelli

Brazil

Arsenal

03/02/2023

30/06/2027

180,000 p/w

18.

Enzo Fernandez

Argentina

Chelsea

31/01/2023

30/06/2032

180,000 p/w

19.

Cristian Romero

Argentina

Tottenham

30/08/2022

30/06/2027

165,000 p/w

20.

Ronald Araujo

Uruguay

Barcelona

23/01/2025

30/06/2031

160,157 p/w

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10

Eder Militao

£233,509-per-week

The top 10 kicks off with a man who, when fit, is one of the best central defenders in the world. Unfortunately, injuries have plagued Eder Militao as he enters the prime years of his career and have stopped the Brazilian from becoming a key member of the Real Madrid spine.

The 27-year-old suffered yet another serious ACL injury during the 2024/2025 campaign, less than nine months after making his return from the first. While being sidelined isn’t the defender’s fault, it is an expensive absence for Madrid, with Militao earning north of £230,000 every single week.

Eder Militao Contract Details

Club

Real Madrid

Start Date

23/01/2024

Expiry Date

30/06/2028

Wage (£)

233,509 p/w

9

Gabriel Jesus

£265,000-per-week

Yet another name on this list that has been hit by the injury bug, Gabriel Jesus is one of Arsenal’s highest-paid players, but he is also one of their most unreliable. Not only has he been unable to find himself as a regular goalscorer since completing his move from Manchester City in 2022, but his struggles with fitness have also been a major cause for concern.

The forward is set to miss the remainder of the 2024/2025 season, meaning he will finish the campaign with just three Premier League goals. Though that record across 17 games is marginally better than the four he managed in 27 appearances the year prior. That’s what £265,000-per-week gets you.

Gabriel Jesus Contract Details

Club

Arsenal

Start Date

04/07/2022

Expiry Date

30/06/2027

Wage (£)

265,000 p/w

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8

Lautaro Martinez

£266,981-per-week

A name in the top 10 who is earning his massive pay packet, the issues that have meant Militao and Jesus have been making money while on the sidelines have not impacted Lautaro Martinez, who continues to lead by example up top for Inter Milan. The World Cup and Copa America winner is one of the best number nines on the planet right now and has been crucial in the Nerazzurri’s attempt to win consecutive Scudetto’s for the first time since 2010.

Forging a strong partnership with the likes of Marcus Thuram, Martinez is a consistent threat in front of goal. His performances have once again led him to being near the top of the pile when it comes to potential winners of the 2025 Ballon d’Or.

Lautaro Martinez Contract Details

Club

Inter Milan

Start Date

12/08/2024

Expiry Date

30/06/2029

Wage (£)

266,981 p/w

7

Federico Valverde

£266,981-per-week

Federico Valverde has become a vital cog in Real Madrid’s well-oiled machine. His ability to retain possession and make key passes has been crucial to Carlo Ancelotti’s side, especially considering players like Toni Kroos and Luka Modric have either left or are at the latter stages of their career having dominated the Madrid midfield for years. This significance was further confirmed when the club announced that the midfielder had extended his stay at the club until 2029 two years ago as Los Blancos prepared for the future.

As a result of that deal, the Uruguayan saw his salary increase to very healthy £266,981-per-week, putting him among some of the highest earners at the Bernabeu.

Federico Valverde Contract Details

Club

Real Madrid

Start Date

09/11/2023

Expiry Date

30/06/2029

Wage (£)

266,981 p/w

6

Marquinhos

£269,063-per-week

While it is often said that it is the attacking players who make the most money, players like Marquinhos serve to prove that isn’t always the case. The central defender earns close to a quarter of a million pounds weekly at PSG and is certainly one of the biggest beneficiaries of the club’s takeover in 2011.

That is not to say that the defender isn’t worth the hefty sum spent on him. The 30-year-old has spent more than a decade in the French capital, and while others left when the novelty wore off and it was clear they weren’t going to become European champions, Marquinhos stayed, morphing into a true leader and club captain as he begins to enter the latter stages of his career.

Marquinhos Contract Details

Club

Paris Saint-Germain

Start Date

13/09/2023

Expiry Date

30/06/2028

Wage (£)

269,063 p/w

5

Malcom

£288,282-per-week

One of the most expensive players in Brazilian football history, and arguably one of the biggest flops. There was a lot of hype surrounding Malcom when he first burst onto the scene as a youngster, making a name for himself at now semi-professional Bordeaux. This earned him a move to Barcelona, which turned out to be a terrible switch, and a year later, he was packing his bags for Russia to join Zenit St Petersburg.

While he has not reached the same level since, it hasn’t stopped the 27-year-old from being wealthier than he has ever been. Now at Al-Hilal, Malcom is earning a staggering £288,282 per week and is starring alongside the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.

Malcom Contract Details

Club

Al-Hilal

Start Date

26/07/2023

Expiry Date

30/06/2027

Wage (£)

288,282 p/w

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4

Roberto Firmino

£304,298-per-week

Following one high earner in Saudi Arabia, we have another in Roberto Firmino. The Brazilian forward was one of the most underrated players the Premier League has seen in recent years, and his work for Liverpool allowed Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah to fire the Reds to domestic and European glory with their goals.

Firmino was, and still is, an incredibly skilled player technically, but he swapped the Premier League for Saudi Arabia and is now playing for Al-Ahli, where he earns more than £300,000 per week.

Roberto Firmino Contract Details

Club

Al-Ahli

Start Date

04/07/2023

Expiry Date

30/06/2026

Wage (£)

304,298 p/w

3

Jhon Duran

£326,880-per-week

It was a surprise to see Aston Villa so willing to let go of a talented player with so much potential like Jhon Duran. Looking at his wages at Al-Nassr, it is at least clear to see why the striker would’ve been desperate to complete the move.

Duran often cut a frustrated figure on the Aston Villa bench as he took on the role of super-sub under Unai Emery. He was a surprise package at the start of the 2024/2025 Premier League season, knocking on the door for more regular game time. It was clear he had more to offer, but it seemed obvious that with Ollie Watkins not getting any younger, Villa would want to keep hold of him for the future. Instead, they accepted a mammoth offer from Al-Nassr, where Duran now earns £326,880 per week.

Jhon Duran Contract Details

Club

Al-Nassr

Start Date

31/01/2025

Expiry Date

30/06/2030

Wage (£)

326,880 p/w

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2

Vinicius Junior

£333,607-per-week

Given that Vinicius Jr is currently the best player in South America, it’s no surprise to find that he is also one of the highest earners in the region. The Real Madrid star is continuing to cement his extraordinary legacy after just missing out on becoming Brazil’s first Ballon d’Or winner since 2007.

At just 24-years-old, the world is truly at Vinicius’ feet. As impressive as he is now, there’s still plenty of potential for growth. As he continues to improve, expect his salary, already at £333k per week, to rise significantly. If it does, he will likely surpass the current ruler at the top of this list.

Vinicius Junior Contract Details

Club

Real Madrid

Start Date

31/10/2023

Expiry Date

30/06/2027

Wage (£)

333,607 p/w

1

Casemiro

£350,000-per-week

One of the highest-paid Premier League players currently and also one of the most expensive bench warmers. Casemiro, a five-time Champions League winner, made the move to Manchester United in the summer of 2022 after completing a £70 million transfer, seeking a new challenge in English football. At Real Madrid, the Brazil international had been part of a dynamic midfield trio with Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, and he was brought to Old Trafford to strengthen Erik ten Hag’s midfield.

In his first season, Casemiro proved his worth, despite missing several games through suspension. He helped guide United to their first piece of silverware in six years, justifying his £350,000-per-week wages. Since then though, the ball-winner has not looked the same player as he struggles to keep up with the intensity of the Premier League. Ruben Amorim is bound to move him on at the first possible opportunity.

Casemiro Contract Details

Club

Manchester United

Start Date

22/08/2022

Expiry Date

30/06/2026

Wage (£)

350,000 p/w

All statistics and salaries courtesy of Transfermarkt and Capology – accurate as of 15/02/2025.

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Publish date : 2025-02-15 01:24:00

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