The Champions League serves up its biggest league-phase tie so far tonight: Bayern Munich against Arsenal at the Allianz Arena, kicking off at 20:00 UK time. It is also one of the richest fixtures of the season: England’s captain leading the Bayern attack, Arsenal’s two most valuable players trying to stop him, and — over in Madrid — the wealthiest footballer in action anywhere tonight.
Nine matches wrap up Matchday 3 this evening. Here is the full schedule, then the seven richest players on show, ranked by estimated net worth — with market values in a separate column, for reasons explained below. For Tuesday night’s ranking, see our guide to the richest footballers in the Champions League last night.
Tonight’s Fixtures at a Glance
| Kick-off (UK) | Fixture |
|---|---|
| 17:45 | Lille vs Galatasaray |
| 17:45 | Como vs Manchester United |
| 20:00 | Bayern Munich vs Arsenal |
| 20:00 | Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig |
| 20:00 | Inter vs Shakhtar Donetsk |
| 20:00 | Sporting CP vs LASK Linz |
| 20:00 | Aston Villa vs Viking |
| 20:00 | Club Brugge vs RC Lens |
| 20:00 | Real Betis vs Feyenoord |
Original graphic for EarlyMagazine listing tonight’s Champions League fixtures — kick-off times are UK times.
The Ranking: Richest Players in Action Tonight
Net worth figures are published estimates that vary by source; market values are Transfermarkt estimates. The two numbers measure different things.
| Rank | Player | Club | Tonight’s Fixture | Estimated Net Worth | Market Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kylian Mbappé | Real Madrid | Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig (20:00) | Around $200 million (estimates range $160–250 million) | Around €200 million |
| 2 | Harry Kane | Bayern Munich | Bayern Munich vs Arsenal (20:00) | Around £110 million | Around €60 million |
| 3 | Vinícius Júnior | Real Madrid | Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig (20:00) | Around $100 million | Around €130–140 million |
| 4 | Jude Bellingham | Real Madrid | Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig (20:00) | Estimates range from £40 million to $90 million | Around €160 million |
| 5 | Lautaro Martínez | Inter | Inter vs Shakhtar Donetsk (20:00) | Estimates range from $25 million to $40 million | Around €85 million |
| 6 | Bukayo Saka | Arsenal | Bayern Munich vs Arsenal (20:00) | Around £23.5 million | Around €110 million |
| 7 | Declan Rice | Arsenal | Bayern Munich vs Arsenal (20:00) | Around £20 million | Around €120 million |
Kylian Mbappé and Real Madrid’s Money Men
The richest player in action tonight is not in Munich at all. Kylian Mbappé, whose net worth is estimated at around $200 million — published estimates range from $160 million to $250 million depending on how his Real Madrid contract is counted — headlines Madrid’s home game against RB Leipzig. His market value, around €200 million, is among the highest in world football.
Behind him, Madrid field two more of tonight’s top four. Vinícius Júnior, estimated at around $100 million, has seen his market value ease to roughly €130–140 million in the latest Transfermarkt updates. Jude Bellingham is the clearest example on this page of why estimates need care: published net worth figures for him range from around £40 million in UK rich lists to $90 million in global rankings, against a market value of around €160 million. All are estimates; nobody outside his accountants knows the exact number.
Harry Kane: Bayern’s £110 Million Striker
Harry Kane tops the bill in the headline game. The 2026 Sunday Times Rich List estimated the England captain’s wealth at £110 million, built from a decade of elite wages, a Bayern contract reported at around £415,000 a week, endorsements including Skechers and Cadbury, and a growing property portfolio.
His market value tells the opposite story: at 33, Transfermarkt puts it at around €60 million, barely half his estimated fortune. Kane is proof that market value falls with age while net worth keeps climbing.
Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice: Arsenal’s Valuable Pair
Arsenal arrive in Munich with the mirror image of Kane’s profile: young, hugely valuable, still building their fortunes. Bukayo Saka’s net worth is estimated at around £23.5 million, against a market value of around €110 million. Declan Rice, estimated at around £20 million, is valued by Transfermarkt at around €120 million — more than Arsenal paid West Ham for him.
Both are on wages most players never approach — Saka reportedly earns around £350,000 a week — so their fortunes will keep rising steeply. Tonight, they are worth more to buy than they have yet banked.
Lautaro Martínez: Inter’s Captain
Inter’s home game with Shakhtar Donetsk features Lautaro Martínez, the Argentine World Cup winner who captains the Italian side. Published net worth estimates for him vary widely, from around $25 million to $40 million, while his market value is put at around €85 million — the highest in Serie A. As with Bellingham, the range itself is the story.
Market Value Is Not Net Worth
A player’s market value estimates what a club might pay to sign him: money between clubs, not money in his bank. Net worth estimates what he has actually kept from wages, bonuses, endorsements and investments. That is why 25-year-old Saka can be “worth” €110 million as an asset while having banked an estimated £23.5 million, and why Kane’s fortune can be nearly double his transfer value. The same gap appears across sport — compare Luka Dončić’s net worth in the NBA, or how Caitlin Clark’s net worth is only beginning to chase her commercial value.
The Early Game: Fàbregas Welcomes Manchester United
The evening starts in Italy, where Como host Manchester United at 17:45. The curiosity on the touchline is Como’s coach, Cesc Fàbregas, whose playing career at Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea built him an estimated $45 million fortune, per Celebrity Net Worth. Tonight he tries to out-think one of the richest clubs on earth — the money game, played from the dugout.
FAQ
Who is the richest player in the Champions League tonight?
Kylian Mbappé of Real Madrid, with an estimated net worth of around $200 million. Published estimates range from $160 million to $250 million.
What is Harry Kane’s net worth?
The 2026 Sunday Times Rich List estimated Kane’s wealth at around £110 million. His Transfermarkt market value is around €60 million — a different measure entirely.
What time is Bayern Munich vs Arsenal tonight?
The match kicks off at 20:00 UK time on Wednesday 21 October 2026. Como vs Manchester United and Lille vs Galatasaray start earlier, at 17:45.
Why is Bukayo Saka’s market value higher than his net worth?
Market value is what a club might pay Arsenal for him; net worth is what he has earned and kept so far. At 25, his biggest earning years are still converting value into wealth.
Final Thoughts
Tonight’s money story splits in two: Madrid and Munich showcase footballers who have already turned talent into nine-figure fortunes, while Arsenal’s young stars are worth a fortune to everyone except, so far, themselves. On current wages, this ranking will look very different in five years.
Sources and notes: Fixtures from UEFA, PSG and NBC Sports listings for Wednesday 21 October 2026. Net worth figures are published estimates from the Sunday Times Rich List 2026, GiveMeSport’s England rich list, Celebrity Net Worth and global football rich lists; market values are Transfermarkt estimates. All figures vary by source and are not official disclosures. The in-body graphic on this page is an original illustration created for this article.
