Salah in record-breaking contract offer: Cristiano Ronaldo’s wages ‘officially surpassed’

10 Jun 2026 18:50 BST | 4 min read

Mohamed Salah, Cristiano Ronaldo — © IMAGO

Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Accredited football journalist and editor covering the game since 2006

Mohamed Salah is in line to earn more than six times his Liverpool wage, with the Egypt international forward set to eclipse Cristiano Ronaldo as the world’s best-paid player.

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It was reported earlier this week that Salah had struck an agreement with the Saudi Pro League to complete a move there on three conditions.

The attacker was said to have given ‘initial approval’ for the transfer, which he will make as a free agent having had his Liverpool deal torn up.

Current ETV

Mohamed Salah

F, M (R)

Liverpool

Mohamed Salah

F, M (R)

Liverpool

ETV Range

€35.1M - €42.9M

However, this agreement was made on the basis of three conditions being met.

“Salah stipulated receiving an annual salary and financial benefits commensurate with his status and marketing value, in addition to signing a contract that extends for two or three seasons to ensure stability in the next stage of his career,” Marib Press (via Anfield Watch) reported.

“The Egyptian star also set a third condition, which is to move to a club that has a sporting project capable of competing for major titles and championships, and not just participating.”

Salah can earn more than Ronaldo

Salah appears to have had all three of his demands met by Al-Ittihad as details of an offer from the Saudi Pro League side have been published in a report on the Ahmed Mubarak YouTube channel.

It claims that the PIF-owned side are willing to pay Salah more than €225 million net over the course of a three-year contract, roughly €75m per year, satisfying the player’s demand for a large wage and a long contract.

This represents more than six times more than he was earning with Liverpool, where he received a gross annual wage of €23.2m. It is also significantly more than it was thought to be demanding to stay in Europe, where Juventus and Fenerbahce are both interested in him.

“Al Ittihad have reportedly put forward the highest number on paper, with reports of an offer worth €75m net per year over three years - that is €225m in guaranteed basic salary, without counting sponsorship income, image rights money or commercial bonuses,” the report claims.

© IMAGO - Ronaldo's status as football's best-paid player is under threat

While this figure is not enough to overtake Ronaldo as football’s leading earner, given that the Portuguese scoops a little over €300m per year, the Egyptian current affairs channel reports that with the additional revenue streams of sponsorship, image rights and commercial bonuses counted, Salah will claim the crown.

It states: “That figure would officially surpass Cristiano Ronaldo’s total package at Al Nassr if you add all the components.”

The Saudi Pro League has been interested in signing Salah for years, and having made such a lucrative offer to the Egyptian star, now seems as good a chance as ever for them to finally get their man.

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