The landscape of global sports is dominated by eyewatering multi-million dollar contracts, primarily driven by American Baseball (MLB) and international Football (Soccer). The biggest sports contract in history belongs to baseball star Juan Soto, who signed a staggering 15-year, $765 million USD (approx. $1.2 Billion AUD) deal with the New York Mets in 2024. Following closely is Shohei Ohtani with a $700 million USD (approx. $1.07 Billion AUD) deal with the LA Dodgers. Other notable entries include historic football deals for Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Key Questions Answered in This Top 10 Sporting Contracts Article:
What is the biggest contract in sports history?
The title currently belongs to Major League Baseball star Juan Soto. In late 2024, he signed a historic 15-year contract with the New York Mets worth $765,000,000 USD (roughly $1.197 Billion AUD). To put that in perspective, Soto earns roughly $121,000 per hour.
How much is Shohei Ohtani's contract worth?
Shohei Ohtani signed a groundbreaking 20-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers valued at $700,000,000 USD (over $1 Billion AUD). Interestingly, the contract includes heavily deferred payments, he takes home just $2 million a year for the first ten years, deferring the massive remainder to the back half of the deal.
What is the biggest contract in Football (Soccer) history?
At the peak of his powers in 2017, Lionel Messi signed a four-year contract with FC Barcelona valued at $674,000,000 USD (over $1 Billion AUD).
Who holds the biggest contract in the NFL?
Kansas City Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes signed a 10-year deal in 2020 worth $503,000,000 USD ($755 Million AUD). Considering he has already delivered multiple Super Bowl rings since signing, it is widely considered one of the best value mega-deals in sports.
How has Saudi Arabia impacted sports contracts?
The influx of Saudi wealth has dramatically shifted the list of the biggest sporting contracts. Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr) signed a 2.5-year deal worth $525 Million USD, while Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad) locked in a 2-year deal worth $447 Million USD, cementing Saudi football clubs as some of the highest-paying organizations in world sport.
Largest Contract of All Time: Juan Soto
Sport: Baseball
Organisation: NY Mets
Contract: 15 years (2025-2039)
Contract Value: $765,000,000 (AUD $1,197,000,000)
The latest and greatest sports contract in history has just been signed by the one and only Juan Soto. Hailing from the small Caribbean nation of the Dominican Republic, Juan Soto has made headlines around the world for a truly eyewatering payday.
The new largest sports contract in history amounts to USD$765 million, almost $1.2 billion Australian Dollars. If that’s not crazy enough this new contract, amounting to a total larger sum than Shohei Ohtani is for a shorter contract length, just 15 years as opposed to Shohei’s 20.
Putting this into perspective Juan Soto will be earning approximately USD$51 million per season, just under $320,000 per game, $121,000 per hour, $2,020 per minute and $24 per second. Culminating in the biggest contract in sports history
Second Largest Contract of All Time: Shohei Ohtani
Sport: Baseball
Organisation: LA Dodgers
Contract: 20 years (2024-2043)
Contract Value: $700,000,000 (AUD $1,074,765,300)
The previous biggest contract in sports history is also one of the strangest. Shohei Ohtani made international headlines when he locked in a 20 year contract with the LA Dodgers worth a cool $700 million USD (or over 1 billion dollarydoos).
However, while a 20 year contract in itself is absolute insanity to think about, it’s the T&Cs of this contract that are the most mind boggling.
For the next ten years, Ohtani will take home just $2 million a year, leaving a massive $68 per year to be deferred to him in the later half of the contract.
Third Largest Contract of All Time: Kylian Mbappé
Sport: Soccer
Organisation: Paris Saint-Germain
Contract: ~3 years,
Contract Value: $681 million
Mbappé’s 2022 extension with PSG is one of the largest soccer deals ever, and globally ranks just behind Soto and Ohtani in total contract value.
Fourth Largest Contract of All Time: Lionel Messi
Sport: Football
Organisation: FC Barcelona.
Contract: 4 years (2017-2021)
Contract value: $674,000,000 (AUD $1,012,993,018)
When you are the greatest player in the history of the most popular sport in history, it shouldn’t be that much of a surprise that you are also the recipient of one of the biggest contracts in sports history.
In 2017, at the peak of his powers at Barcelona, Lionel Messi was rewarded with a four-year contract that was valued at over one BILLION Aussie dollars.
Fifth Largest Contract of All Time: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Sport: Baseball
Organisation: Toronto Blue Jays
Length of Contract: 14 years
Contract Value: $500 millionAnnounced in 2025, Guerrero’s extension is among the largest in baseball history and likely cracks the all-sports Top 10 by total value
Sixth Largest Contract of All Time: Christian Ronaldo
Sport: Soccer
Organisation: Al Nassr
Contract: ~2 years
Contract Value: $710 million+ Ronaldo’s Saudi Pro League deal reportedly exceeds $700 M total value when all compensation is included, making it one of the largest soccer contracts, though exact totals vary by reporting and aren’t always directly comparable to team sports head-to-head.
Note: Valuations of Ronaldo’s contract can vary widely depending on what is counted (salary vs bonuses/perks), so placement in a strict Top 10 by total guaranteed value can differ between sources.
Seventh Largest Contract of All Time: Patrick Mahomes
Sport: American Football (NFL)
Organisation: Kansas City Chiefs
Contract: 10 years (2020-2031)
Contract Value: $503,000,000 (AUD $755,987,371)
As the best gunslinger in the game and with multiple Super Bowls, MVPs and Super Bowl MVPs to his name, it’s no surprise to see the wages Patrick Mahomes commands.
The ideal player to build a dynasty around, in 2020, the Kansas City Chiefs decided to lock him up for a decade with a deal worth over AUD $750 million.
This contract has seemingly paid dividends for Kansas City, with Mahomes already making 3 Super Bowls and winning 2 in its first 4 years.
Eighth Largest Contract of All Time: Mike Trout
Sport: Baseball
Organisation: Los Angeles Angels
Length of contract: 12 years (2019-2030)
Contract value: $426,500,000 (AUD $641,011,160)
Previously the highest paid player in the MLB, Los Angeles Angels centre fielder Mike Trout has only recently been dethroned (stay tuned) but is still taking home enough to feed his family and some.
The now 32-year-old trout signed an insane 12-year deal back in 2019 that ensures he will take home in excess of AUD $641 million. Big bait catches big fish.
Ninth Largest Contract of All Time: Mookie Betts
Sport: Baseball
Organisation: Los Angeles Dodgers
Length of contract: 12 years (2021-2032)
Contract value: $365,000,000 (AUD $561,278,750)
Another baseball player? Really? How much money do these clubs have? A lot, apparently.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have enough to give Mookie Betts approximately AUD $560 million over 12 years.
Tenth Largest Contract of All Time: Aaron Judge
Sport: Baseball
Organisation: New York Yankees
Length of contract: 9 years (2023-2032)
Contract value: $360,000,000 (AUD $553,590,000)
What’s this? A single-digit baseball contract? Yankees right field Aaron Judge penned a nine-year deal earlier this year that will see him net over AUD $500 million.
Is he worth it? We’ll let you be the Judge of that.