10 of the Most Expensive Sports Contracts of All Time
Sports contracts have reached a whole new level of jaw-dropping lately, with players signing deals that seem straight out of a fantasy draft. From baseball’s biggest sluggers to international soccer stars and NFL quarterbacks, these athletes are cashing in like never before. We’re talking mind-blowing numbers, creative payment plans, and deals that lock in legacies. From Juan Soto’s record-breaking payday or Lionel Messi’s massive deal that shook FC Barcelona, here are the most expensive sports contracts in sports.
1. Juan Soto
Contract: $765 million over 15 years
The New York Mets redefined the MLB’s financial landscape by reportedly signing professional homerun collector Juan Soto to a groundbreaking 15-year, $765 million contract — the largest deal in MLB history. The agreement, pending a physical, includes a $75 million signing bonus, a full no-trade clause, and an opt-out after five years, which the Mets can void by boosting the final decade’s average annual value. At just 26 years old, Soto already boasts a Hall of Fame trajectory, five Top 10 MVP finishes, and a World Series ring. With dollar signs in their eyes, Mets’ management is just imagining all he’ll accomplish for them if they successfully buy him out for the rest of his career.
2. Shohei Ohtani
Contract: $700 million over 10 years
Shohei Ohtani has a reputation as a high-paid baseball superstar who is just as valuable on the mound as he is swinging the bat. His 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers is monumental, though its unique structure lowers its true value to an estimated $462 million. The Dodgers will pay Ohtani just $2 million annually for the first decade, with $68 million payments deferred to 2034-2043. This arrangement allows payroll flexibility while securing the two-way star.
3. Lionel Messi
Contract: $674 million over 4 years
Lionel Messi’s four-year, $674 million contract with FC Barcelona, signed in 2017, remains one of the largest sports deals in history. The agreement included $140 million as a renewal fee, a $94.6 million loyalty bonus, and an annual salary of $168.5 million, which could increase based on performance and club achievements (something Messi isn’t exactly a stranger to). However, the staggering costs reportedly contributed to Barcelona’s financial crisis, with the club amassing over €1.1 billion in debt.
4. Cristiano Ronaldo
Contract: $536 million over 2 years
Cristiano Ronaldo’s $536 million contract with Al Nassr spans 2.5 years, making it one of the most lucrative deals in soccer history. The deal includes significant perks, like an extended housing contract and potential future agreements rumored to surpass even the biggest sports deals globally. Ronaldo has also expressed interest in extending his stay until 2027, which could push the total value of his earnings even higher.
5. Patrick Mahomes
Contract: $450 million over 10 years
Patrick Mahomes’ 10-year, $450 million extension with the Kansas City Chiefs is the largest contract in NFL history by total value. With incentives, the deal can reach up to $503 million, making it the first half-billion-dollar contract in NFL history (you’ll notice by the end of this list that the NFL doesn’t roll as high with salaries as the MLB). While this deal remains the most expensive in terms of total value, it doesn’t top the league’s highest average annual value or guaranteed money. That distinction belongs to Dak Prescott, whose $240 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys averages $60 million per year, and Deshaun Watson’s fully guaranteed $230 million deal with the Cleveland Browns.
6. Mike Trout
Contract: $426.5 million over 12 years
Mike Trout’s 12-year, $426.5 million extension with the Los Angeles Angels, signed in 2019, is under scrutiny due to his injury struggles. Since 2021, Trout has played just 41% of possible games, and his current contract still owes him $212.7 million through 2030. While he delivered an MVP season in 2019, the Angels have failed to build a successful team around him, leaving them without a postseason appearance in six years.
7. Mookie Betts
Contract: $365 million over 12 years
While the rest of the world was reeling in the early days of COVID-19, Mookie Betts signed a record-breaking 12-year, $365 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 22, 2020. This deal, which includes a $65 million signing bonus, brought the total commitment to $392 million, surpassing Mike Trout’s previous record. The extension followed a trade from the Boston Red Sox in February 2020, where Betts, along with David Price, was sent to the Dodgers in exchange for Alex Verdugo and prospects. Betts’ contract, which includes deferred salaries, runs through 2032, with the Dodgers paying him into 2044.
8. Aaron Judge
Contract: $360 million over 9 years
Homerun hero Aaron Judge signed a nine-year, $360 million contract with the New York Yankees, making it one of the biggest deals in baseball history. Announced on December 7, 2022, the deal came after Judge turned down a $213.5 million offer from the Yankees and had a historic 2022 season, hitting 62 home runs to break the American League record. Judge’s $40 million average annual salary is the highest for a position player, trailing only pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander.
9. Manny Machado
Contract: $350 million over 11 years
Initially signing a 10-year, $300 million contract in 2019, Manny Machado solidified his future with the San Diego Padres by signing an 11-year, $350 million extension in February 2023, keeping him under contract through 2033. The deal includes a full no-trade clause and no opt-outs, ensuring Machado’s long-term presence as the cornerstone of the Padres’ World Series aspirations.
10. Francisco Lindor
Contract: $341 million over 10 years
Francisco Lindor, a switch-hitting shortstop, spent his first six MLB seasons with Cleveland before being traded to the New York Mets in 2021. He signed a 10-year, $341 million extension with the Mets, where he’s delivered strong seasons, including 31 home runs and 31 stolen bases in 2023.