With Mohau Nkota now plying his trade in the oil-rich kingdom of Saudi Arabia, here’s a look at the 10 highest-paid players in the Saudi Pro League — the same division the South African will now compete in.
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Nkota is among the latest additions to the star-studded league, with confirmation over the weekend that he has signed for Al Ettifaq.
Although Al Ettifaq boast household names such as Georginio Wijnaldum, none of their players feature on the top 10 highest-paid list. All the players on that list are part of clubs backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) — and unsurprisingly, football icon Cristiano Ronaldo sits at the very top.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner recently renewed his contract with Al Nassr after speculation over his future, and he now earns an astonishing €4 million (R82.5 million) per week. Ronaldo was the trailblazer who opened the Saudi floodgates, with several global stars — including his former Real Madrid teammates — following suit.
Among them is Karim Benzema, who led Al Ittihad to the league title last season, scoring 21 goals and providing nine assists. Despite the silverware, the Frenchman earns considerably less than Ronaldo, pocketing €931,538 (R19.2 million) per week — making him the third-highest earner in the division.
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Wedged between the two Real Madrid legends is Riyad Mahrez. The Algerian winger, now at Al Ahli — the newly crowned AFC Champions League winners — earns €1 million (R20.6 million) per week, placing him second on the earnings list.
