If They Lived Here: FIFA Stars Would Owe Botswana Over P900 Million in Tax

As the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup kicks off, fans worldwide are watching not only for the goals but also the staggering fortunes earned by football’s biggest stars. According to Forbes magazine, the tournament’s top five earners—Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Vinicius Jr., and Harry Kane—pulled in a combined $381 million over the past year.

Here’s how their estimated earnings break down

Combined, their on-field salaries total approximately $247 million, with an additional $134 million earned off the field through endorsements, appearances, and business ventures.

But what if these global icons called Botswana home?

Botswana’s progressive income tax system charges up to 25% on annual income exceeding BWP 144,000. Applying this rate to the players’ combined on-field earnings of about $247 million (roughly BWP 3.6 billion) suggests the Botswana government could collect approximately BWP 903 million in income tax from these athletes alone, just on their playing salaries.

To put this in perspective, Botswana’s Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services’ total budget for the 2025/26 financial year is BWP 1.09 billion, comprised of:

• Recurrent budget: BWP 1,015,314,690
• Development budget: BWP 72,511,654
• Total: BWP 1,087,826,344

The hypothetical tax revenue from these five players’ on-field salaries alone would cover more than 80% of this entire budget, underscoring the massive financial scale that elite football represents on the global stage.

It’s important to note that the additional $134 million these stars earn from endorsements, image rights, and business ventures typically comes from international sources and is not subject to Botswana taxation unless directly linked to Botswana. Since none of these players currently compete for Botswana clubs or generate local endorsement income, the country would not see any direct tax windfall from these off-field earnings. Still, this comparison highlights the immense revenue opportunities that come with hosting or attracting world-class talent and the fiscal impact of athlete tax residency.