Top 10 biggest sports contracts in history as Erling Haaland signs one of the most 'lucrative' deals ever
Erling Haaland has signed one of the biggest contracts in football history to extend his stay at Manchester City - but where does it rank compared to the most lucrative sports contracts of all time?
City announced on Friday morning that Haaland had signed a staggering nine-and-a-half year contract to remain at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2034.
It is believed to be the longest contract in world football at present, with the Norwegian overtaking the 'record' set by Cole Palmer when he agreed to new terms to keep him at Chelsea until 2033.
Several football players, such as Barcelona's Andres Iniesta, signed lifetime contracts with their clubs, while Real Betis signed Denilson to a 10-year contract back in 1998.
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Haaland told City's official website: "I am really happy to have signed my new contract and to be able to look forward to spending even more time at this great club.
"Manchester City is a special club, full of fantastic people with amazing supporters and it's the type of environment that helps bring the best out of everybody."
According to TBR Football, Haaland will become the first Premier League player ever to earn over £500,000 per week, along with bonuses and image rights contributions.
But where will that contract rank compared to other huge sports contracts? Let's take a look:
10) Mookie Betts (MLB) - £300m
The first Major League Baseball player (and, as you will see, certainly not the last) on the list, Mookie Betts signed a $365 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020.
The move has certainly paid off, with Betts being named as an MLB All-Star from 2021 through to 2024, while the Dodgers won the World Series in 2020 and 2024 with the outfielder and short stop playing a key role. Outside of baseball, Betts is also a professional ten-pin bowling player - though hasn't quite earned a $365m contract there just yet.
9) Canelo Alvarez (Boxing) - £300m
Boxing icon Canelo Alvarez signed a five-year contract with DAZN believed to be worth $365 million (around £300 million) in 2019.
The Mexican signed a 11-fight deal but only three of those were fulfilled before he brought a lawsuit against DAZN, reportedly seeking $280 million in damages. He was released from the contract in November 2020.
8) Mike Trout (Baseball) - £350m
If you thought Haaland's contract was long, MLB star Mike Trout signed a new 12-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels in 2019, believed to be worth $426.5 million.
According to reports, the contract would begin in the 2023 season and see Trout pick up a yearly salary of $35.5 million.
He has played his entire career for the Angels but has yet to win the World Series, but has been named as an MLB All-Star on 11 occasions.
7) Karim Benzema (Football) - £350m
Karim Benzema was part of an influx of European talent to the Saudi Pro League in the summer of 2023, quitting Real Madrid to sign for Al Ittihad.
Fabrizio Romano reported that he was earning $643 million over a three-year contract in Saudi Arabia, although some local media outlets reported that the third year - which would be activated this summer - is only an option, so Benzema may not end up earning the full amount of his reported contract and his deal would be worth less than the initial reported amount.
6) Patrick Mahomes (American football) - £412.5m
Patrick Mahomes signed a 10-year contract extension with the Kansas City Chiefs back in 2020, months after the quarterback led them to a Super Bowl title.
The 29-year-old's deal is said to be worth $450 million over those 10 years, though incentives could push it as high as $503 million (around £412.5m).
5) Jon Rahm (Golf) - £386m
Golf has been involved in a civil war in recent years after the emergence of the Saudi Arabia PIF-backed LIV Golf Tour.
The new tour has captured the signings of some of the PGA's biggest players - although perhaps no bigger than two-time major winner Jon Rahm, who sensationally quit the PGA in 2023.
According to reports, the Spaniard signed a huge $500 million contract to make the high-profile switch, which means he can no longer play in certain PGA events after being suspended by the organisation.
4) Cristiano Ronaldo (Football) - £422m
Cristiano Ronaldo signed a lucrative two-and-a-half year deal with Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr in January 2023, becoming the first major European star to switch to Saudi Arabia.
According to reports, he is on a €200 million per year contract with Al Nassr, with Ronaldo earning €100 million in the current final six months of his deal.
A significant portion of Ronaldo's earnings, though, are brought in through off-pitch matters, such as image rights and endorsements, meaning the Portuguese icon will likely earn significantly more than the amounts publicly stated.
3) Lionel Messi (Football) - £492m
Lionel Messi's final Barcelona contract, signed in 2017, proved to be his last as he left the club on a free transfer in 2021 amid Barca's financial difficulties.
A Spanish newspaper 'leaked' what they claimed to be Messi's salary in 2021, with Barca threatening to take legal action over the leak.
Other reports claimed that the contract was worth $555 million (£492m) over four years, with some of the contract believed to be incentivised.
2) Shohei Ohtani (MLB) - £557 million
For a time, the title of 'world's richest athlete' belonged to Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani.
The pitcher and designated hitter started his career playing in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in his home country, before he moved to the MLB in 2017.
Six years later, he signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, making him sport's richest player - technically.
In an unusual turn of events, Ohtani agreed to deter a significant portion of his salary for an entire decade. That means that, while he is playing for the next 10 years, the Japanese star will earn $2 million per season, before then earning $68 million per year after that.
The move allowed the Dodgers more room in their salary cap to bring in players.
1) Juan Soto (Baseball) - £600 million
Juan Soto overtook Ohtani in owning the biggest contract in all of sport last year, when he signed a whopping 15-year contract with the New York Mets.
The contract will be worth $765 million and caused major controversy among fans as he previously played for the New York Yankees before his contract with them expired.
The 26-year-old, who was born in the Dominican Republic, is one of the most prolific run scorers in all of baseball and is set to continue playing for the Mets until 2039.
Topics: Football, Baseball, NFL, Patrick Mahomes, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Saudi Pro League, Erling Haaland, Champions League, Man City
Ryan Smart