Soccer Star Karim Benzema’s $600,000,000 Saudi Contract Leaves Behind NBA Billionaires LeBron James and Stephen Curry by a Mile

Saudi Arabia has become a huge player in the world of sports. The Saudi example shows how money runs the sporting world. Benzema’s bonanza contract from the Gulf country may lead to significant reverberations. The inception of these currents occurred when Portuguese phenom Cristiano Ronaldo decided to join the Saudi club Al-Nassr and when the LIV Golf tour scene made the PGA tour uncomfortable. Karim Benzema is in his mid-30s, and his capital generation has now hit a cloud nine. 

Benzema’s current contract can bring sweat among the richest sporting figures. This sets another noteworthy precedent for sports and how it keeps changing its trajectory is unprecedented. Anyway, let us compare his contract to Supermax extensions signed by NBA greats LeBron James and Stephen Curry.

Karim Benzema’s contract renders NBA Supermax contracts puny

Benzema decided to sign a three-year contract with the Saudi Professional Club Al-Itihhad. This deal is worth $200 million per year. The contract is over $600 million overall, and the third year is a player option. The USA harbors contracts that can generate blushes among many. However, Benzema’s contract can bring a flush to the highest-paid USA-based athletes. 

To put it in perspective, LeBron James, who turned billionaire last year, has accumulated $431.86 million through contracts in over 20 seasons. He signed a two-year $97 million contract with the Lakers that runs till 2024-25 and he has a player option for the 24-25 season. Warriors’ Guard Stephen Curry has nabbed $302.81 million over the course of 14 seasons. In 2022, he signed a $215 million contract that runs for four years. 

Currently, the highest-paid NBA player is Nikola Jokic, who signed a five-year $264 million extension in 2022. On average, he is projected to around $55 million dollar per year when taking into account variables such as the cap raise. Coco’s contract is worth way more than these for just three years. Consider this: the combined contracts of Nikola Jokic, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry for 11 years don’t add up to Benzema’s three-year deal!

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Saudi Arabia is set to become a sports powerhouse

Whether it be the ill-famed LIV Golf saga, where Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson combined for $350 million contracts, or the signings of Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, the Gulf nation has sent shockwaves with the money it is throwing around athletes. 

Currently, it is attracting athletes that are in the twilight of their careers but still have a lot of value. If it can offer this money to such athletes, what if the players at their peak join the Saudi-professional scene? You can imagine the contracts then. 

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At this rate, a lot of major leagues such as EPL, La Liga, NBA, etc. may need to come up with much more astronomical numbers. Will we soon see a contract that will run in billions? Who knows! Do share your thoughts in the comment section!