Top Highest-Earning Footballers in the World: Mbappe, Ronaldo, Messi, and More

Contrary to popular belief, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo do not necessarily have the highest wages in football. While they have achieved remarkable success and enjoy substantial earnings, other players like Kylian Mbappe have emerged as formidable earners, challenging the traditional hierarchy. The perception of Messi and Ronaldo’s high wages is influenced by their exceptional talent, club associations, media coverage, and overall fascination with their careers.

#1 Most earning footballer: Mbappe

Mbappe surpasses Ronaldo and Messi to become the highest-earning footballer in the world.

After extending his contract with Paris St Germain until June 2025, Kylian Mbappe has become the highest-earning footballer globally.

According to Sportico, Mbappe is the highest-paid player in the world. In addition to his £93 million annual salary, the 23-year-old player earns approximately £17.3 million from endorsements with renowned global brands such as Nike, Hublot, Electronic Arts, Oakley, and Christian Dior.

Following impressive performances at AS Monaco, Mbappe’s career skyrocketed. In the summer of 2017, he arrived at PSG on loan before officially becoming a member of the team in 2018. Over the past five years, Mbappe has scored 181 goals in 225 appearances.

#2 Cristiano Ronaldo

Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is the second-highest-earning player. With his name and influence in the world of sports, the Manchester United forward earns £52 million from endorsement deals. The majority of these deals come from prestigious brands like Nike, Herbalife, and Tag Heuer.

At Old Trafford, the 37-year-old player earns £45.9 million annually, making him the highest-paid player in the Premier League. Currently, clubs in Saudi Arabia are offering CR7 significantly higher wages than Old Trafford, but he has turned them down.

#3 Lionel Messi

Ranking behind Ronaldo is Lionel Messi, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner. Messi’s annual income is £95.3 million, with the majority of it coming from endorsement contracts.

In fourth place on the list is Neymar. After signing a long-term contract with Paris Saint-Germain last summer, the 30-year-old player earns £78.9 million per year.

Mohamed Salah ranks fifth on the list but falls significantly behind the top four earners. The Egyptian player had intentions to leave Anfield this summer, but Liverpool “tied him down” with a new contract that doubled his salary.

Currently, Salah receives an annual salary of £34.2 million, making him the highest-earning player in Liverpool’s history. However, his performances this season have yet to live up to the amount of money invested by Liverpool.

Eden Hazard, Real Madrid’s £89 million signing, earns £27.1 million annually despite infrequent appearances on the field. So far, the Belgian player has made little significant contribution to Los Blancos. His form falls far short of his shining performances at Stamford Bridge.

Former Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta is the only player in the top 10 who does not play in Europe. The 2012 European Golden Ball winner currently plays for Vissel Kobe in the J-League and earns £26 million annually.

Chelsea’s new signing, Raheem Sterling, ranks eighth with a total income of £25.5 million per year. Following him is Kevin De Bruyne with £25.1 million. The Belgian midfielder is also the highest-earning player among Manchester City’s star-studded lineup.

Rounding out the top 10 is Antoine Griezmann. The French player is currently on loan at Atletico Madrid from Barcelona. Griezmann earns £23.8 million annually, with £4.8 million coming from endorsement deals.

Top 10 players with the highest total income in the world in 2022: