Though Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the footballing world in all aspects over the last 15 years, Kylian Mbappe has emerged as the sport's highest-paid player in 2022, but how much does he earn? Here are the 10 best-paid footballers this year.
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With both the seven-time and five-time Ballon d'Or winner in the twilight of their respective careers, Mbappe is widely considered to be the game's next big global superstar.
For a long time, it was his Paris Saint-Germain colleague Neymar who was thought of as the heir to the throne shared by Messi and Ronaldo, but the pair's longevity and consistency has made it difficult for the Brazilian to reach those heights.
Though a world-class player in his own right, Neymar's recent injury record in France has left fans with divided opinions on the trajectory of his career, with many believing his decision to leave Barcelona in 2017 is one he regrets.
Still, the 30-year-old has managed to post remarkable numbers in France since his world-record arrival five years ago, but has seen his status slightly overshadowed by his younger colleague Mbappe, who is today the world's highest-paid footballer.
According to Sportico, the 23-year-old will earn $125 million (R2.2 billion) in wages and endorsements, with Cristiano Ronaldo second to Mbappe with his total earnings being $113 million (R1.9 billion) in 2022.
Messi follows his long-time rival in the ranking, while Neymar ranks above the likes of Eden Hazard and Mohamed Salah in fourth.
Below are the highest-paid footballers in 2022, with the total earnings being made up of wages and endorsements:
1. Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain) – $125m in total earnings
2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) – $113m in total earnings
3. Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain) – $110m in total earnings
4. Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain) – $91m in total earnings
5. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – $39.5m in total earnings
6. Eden Hazard (Real Madrid) – $31.3m in total earnings
7. Andres Iniesta (Vissel Kobe) – $30m in total earnings
8. Raheem Sterling (Chelsea) – $29.4m in total earnings
9. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) – $29m in total earnings
10. Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid) – $27.5m in total earnings
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