Who surpasses Messi and has the highest salary in the World Cup final between Spain vs Argentina

The World Cup final, scheduled for this Sunday, July 19, promises a clash of giants between the teams of Argentina and Spain, which boast some of the most star-studded squads in the tournament. Under the leadership of Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal, the teams bring together athletes with high market value and million-dollar contracts at their respective clubs. Although both stars compete for the highest paid position, the list of the five highest paid in the decision presents a balanced distribution.

During the semi-finals stage, the biggest winnings scenario was dominated by England, with names like Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Ivan Toney appearing in the rankings. France also stood out, with Ousmane Dembelé and Kylian Mbappé, the latter leading the list with a notable advantage over the others. Interestingly, Argentina, now finalists, had no representative at the top, and Lionel Messi was only in seventh place among the highest earners at that stage, a contrast that shows the dynamics of athletes’ appreciation throughout the competition.

As the decision approaches, the Argentine star, wearing the number 10 shirt, regains his prominence, and a new relevant member of coach Lionel Scaloni’s squad appears in the relationship. To compile this classification, information from the Capology platform, recognized for compiling data on player salaries in the main global leagues, was consulted. The values ​​presented correspond to the gross annual salary of each athlete.

Fifth highest salary: Pedri from Barcelona

The Barcelona midfielder starts counting the athletes with the highest salaries in the World Cup final. At just 23 years old, the Spanish number 16 lost his place in Luis de la Fuente’s starting lineup to Fabián Ruiz during the knockout stages, but remains a crucial player for the team. At his club, Barça, Pedri is a fundamental player and receives 16 million euros (equivalent to 93.3 million reais) annually, one of the highest salaries for the Catalan team.

Lautaro Martínez, Argentina’s top scorer and his remuneration at Inter Milan

The striker, who wears the number 10 shirt at Inter Milan, has the highest salary in Italian Serie A. At the club, he receives just over 20.3 million euros (around 118 million reais) annually, a figure that places him among the highest paid in this World Cup final. Lautaro was decisive in crucial moments of the knockout stage, including finding the net for the second time against England, securing Argentina’s place in the big decision.

Nico Williams: Athletic Bilbao’s salary highlight in the Spanish national team

Nico Williams presents an intriguing situation in the player relationship. He defends the colors of Athletic Bilbao, a club that is not among the main powers of European or Spanish football. However, the striker signed an impressive contract with the team, who worked hard to keep him and frustrate a possible transfer to Barcelona. Born and raised in the Basque region, number 17 maintains a strong bond with his club and its fans, being the athlete with the highest salary in the squad, receiving 21.3 million euros (equivalent to 124 million reais). His remuneration places him among the top ten in the Spanish Championship’s total salary bill.

Lionel Messi and his impressive salary at Inter Miami

After being left out of the top five in the semi-final stage, Lionel Messi appears in the ranking of World Cup finalists, occupying second place among the athletes from Spain and Argentina with the highest salaries. At his club, Inter Miami, in the United States, the Argentine number 10 receives 24.7 million euros (equivalent to 144 million reais) annually after converting from North American currency. In Major League Soccer (MLS), the striker’s salary is higher than the total wage bill of all other rival clubs in the league, surpassing his national team colleagues by a large margin. This demonstrates MLS’ ability to attract talent and Messi’s continued bargaining power.

Lamine Yamal: Barcelona’s young talent with the highest salary in the final

Leading the list is a player widely touted as world football’s next big star. Lamine Yamal, who celebrated his 19th birthday during the World Cup, already has the highest salary among all the finalists and also at Barcelona, ​​his current club. The young striker receives 31.2 million euros (approximately 182 million reais) annually from the Spanish team, placing him in fourth place in the La Liga contract ranking, a remarkable feat for his young age.

Ranking of the highest salaries in the 2026 World Cup decision

• Lamine Yamal (Spain) – 31.25 million euros (R$ 182 million)
• Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 24.7 million euros (R$ 144 million)
• Nico Williams (Spain) – 21.3 million euros (R$ 124 million)
• Lautaro Martínez (Argentina) – 20.3 million euros (R$ 118 million)
• Pedri (Spain) – 16 million euros (R$ 93.3 million)