When it comes to football greatness, no debate is bigger than Messi vs Ronaldo. Among their many skills, free kicks stand out as a decisive weapon. Both legends have scored stunning goals from set pieces. But their styles, techniques, and consistency are very different.

In this blog, Winning Whistle listed all free kick goals of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, with separate tables for a clear breakdown.

Lionel Messi All Free Kick Goals

Lionel Messi’s free kicks feel almost inevitable.
A short run-up, perfect body balance, and a curling shot that bends beyond the goalkeeper’s reach.

Ronaldo All Free Kick Goals

Cristiano Ronaldo’s free kicks are built on confidence and power.
The famous stance, the deep breath, and a shot that moves unpredictably in the air.

Cristiano Ronaldo remains the king of highest paid footballers list — even at the age of 40.
The Portuguese legend continues to earn more than any other footballer in the world thanks to his massive salary and global brand power.

Cristiano Ronaldo – £245 Million (Al Nassr)

After extending his contract with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr for two more years, Ronaldo earns an eye-watering £200 million per season in salary alone.
Off the pitch, his partnerships with Nike, Tag Heuer, Herbalife, and PokerStars, plus his own business ventures (including his popular YouTube channel and CR7 brand), add another £45 million to his yearly income.

Lionel Messi – £95 Million (Inter Miami)

Ronaldo’s long-time rival Lionel Messi ranks second.
Messi’s Inter Miami salary is around £45 million per year. But his off-field endorsement — including Adidas, Pepsi, and Budweiser — earns him over £50 million.
He also invests in hotels and even has his own energy drink brand.

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Karim Benzema – £75 Million (Al-Ittihad)

In third place is Karim Benzema, 37, who continues to cash in at Al-Ittihad.
While his endorsements total around £3.4 million, his huge Saudi salary takes his annual income to a massive £75 million.

Kylian Mbappé – £70 Million (Real Madrid)

At number four is Kylian Mbappé, now shining for Real Madrid.
The French forward earns £52 million in wages and £18 million from sponsorships — and that number could rise as his global fame keeps growing.

Mbappé’s total earnings of £70m make him one of the highest-paid La Liga players 2025 and the youngest on this elite list.

Erling Haaland – £60 Million (Manchester City)

Erling Haaland is the Premier League’s top earner with £45 million in wages and £15 million from endorsement deals including Nike.
The Norwegian striker’s growing brand power means his total earnings could soon climb even higher.

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Vinícius Jr – £47 Million (Real Madrid)

Another Real Madrid star, Vinícius Jr earns about £30 million in salary and £17 million from off-field — including deals with top fashion and sports brands.

Mohamed Salah – £41 Million (Liverpool)

Mo Salah, Liverpool’s Egyptian superstar, earns £26 million in salary and £15 million through endorsements with Adidas, Pepsi, and Vodafone.
His massive popularity in the Arab and Muslim world makes him one of football’s most marketable athletes.

Sadio Mané – £40 Million (Al Nassr)

Sadio Mané ranks eighth. Now playing alongside Ronaldo at Al Nassr, he earns £40 million yearly — with £3.4 million coming from sponsorships and the rest from his club wages.

Jude Bellingham – £33 Million (Real Madrid)

At just 22, Jude Bellingham is already among the top ten.
The English midfielder earns £21.5 million from his Real Madrid contract and adds £11.5 million from brand partnerships with Adidas and Lucozade.

Lamine Yamal – £32 Million (Barcelona)

Rounding out the list is Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s teenage sensation.
At only 18, he earns £25 million per year in wages. And around £7 million from endorsements — a number that will surely skyrocket as his career progresses.

For the fourth consecutive year, Real Madrid has been named the world’s most valuable football club, valued at $6.75 billion (approx. €5.95 billion), according to Forbes magazine. This also makes the club the first in history to surpass $1 billion in annual revenue. Barcelona remains in third place with a valuation of $5.65 billion (approx. €4.98 billion), representing a 2% increase from last year, according to Forbes’ annual report.

During the 2023/24 season, the Merengue club earned $1.13 billion (approx. €996 million), making it the first football club to break the $1 billion revenue barrier.

The annual report attributes this growth to their 2023/24 Champions League triumph, commercial partnerships, and widespread international appeal. The club also aims to recover a portion of the investment made in renovating the Santiago Bernabéu through matchday revenues, including ticket sales.

Manchester United follows closely behind with a valuation of $6.6 billion (approx. €5.82 billion), while Barcelona sits in third place with around $821 million in revenue (approx. €724 million). According to Forbes, this figure could also surpass $1 billion once stadium improvements are completed.

A surprise mover on the list was Arsenal, climbing from tenth to eighth with a 31% increase in value and revenue of $771 million (approx. €679 million). PSG, meanwhile, remains in seventh place with a valuation of $4.6 billion (approx. €4.05 billion). The French side could further improve their position next year, depending on the outcome of this Saturday’s Champions League final against Inter Milan. A victory could bring in an additional $28 million (approx. €24.7 million).

Among the top ten – out of a total of 30 clubs listed – the Premier League leads with six teams, followed by two from La Liga, one from Ligue 1, and one from the Bundesliga.

Atlético de Madrid also features in the rankings, coming in thirteenth with revenue of $1.7 billion (approx. €1.5 billion).