Magnetoresistive element and magnetic sensor

A magnetoresistive element comprising:

• a first magnetic layer magnetized in a direction having a component perpendicular to an in-plane direction;
• a second magnetic layer having a magnetization direction variable in response to an external magnetic field;
• a spacer layer disposed between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer;
• and
• an antiferromagnetic layer disposed on a side of the first magnetic layer opposite to the spacer layer, wherein
• the first magnetic layer includes a multilayer structure including a plurality of unit laminates being stacked,
• each of the plurality of unit laminates includes a first metal layer and a second metal layer,
• in each of the plurality of unit laminates, the first metal layer is disposed closer to the antiferromagnetic layer than the second metal layer,
• the first metal layer included in one of the plurality of unit laminates that is closest to the antiferromagnetic layer is a specific metal layer which is in contact with the antiferromagnetic layer,
• the first metal layer included in each of the unit laminates other than the one of the plurality of unit laminate closest to the antiferromagnetic layer is an other metal layer which is not in contact with the antiferromagnetic layer, and
• the specific metal layer includes a material different from a material of the other metal layer.