Highest Earning Footballers 2022: Neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo, this young star of FIFA World Cup 2022 earned the most this season!

ZeeBiz WebTeam | Dec 17, 2022, 10:42 AM IST

The roll of honour for highest-earning footballers has constantly had names of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at the top for some years now. However, not surprisingly, the top honours for the 2022-23 season belong to the young Turk Kylian Mbappe. Brazilian superstar Neymar Jr and Liverpool's Mo Salah are the other two names on the list of top 5 highest-earning footballers this season.

Also Read: Croatia Vs Morocco, FIFA World Cup 2022 Today's Match - Bronze final, Third Place Play-off: When and where to watch? Live streaming, head-to-head record, timing, squads, TV channel, Match preview

Check their on-field and off-field earnings in detail here —

 

1/5

Kylian Mbappe - Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and France

Kylian Mbappe - Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and France

1) Kylian Mbappe - Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and France
Salary, perks and other on-pitch earnings = $ 110 million
Income from endorsements and other off-pitch sources = $ 18 million.

The 23-year-old Frenchman's protracted contract saga with his club Paris Saint Germain was the talk of the town this year. A prodigious talent, Mbappe was being courted by elite clubs like Real Madrid and other who's who of footballing royalty. He had dropped feelers towards Real's President Florentino Perez and the move to Santiago Bernebeu looked all but done. However, PSG's Qatar ownership literally opened the coffers to keep Mbappe in Paris. Whhich explains why his on-field salary — an eye-watering $ 110 million — is almost twice as much as the next footballer on the list.

(Pic: PTI Photo)

2/5

Lionel Messi - Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and Argentina

Lionel Messi - Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and Argentina

2) Lionel Messi - Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and Argentina
Salary, perks and other on-pitch earnings = $ 65 million
Income from endorsements and other off-pitch sources = $ 55 million

Mbappe's clubmate and all-time great Lionel Messi takes the second spot on the list. He was already the go-to face for advertisers and marketers, but his stellar show at the World Cup in Qatar has raised his stakes even higher! Apart from Cristiano Ronaldo, no other footballer on the planet comes close to Messi's marketing potential.

(Pic: Reuters)

3/5

Cristiano Ronaldo - Ex-Manchester United and Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo - Ex-Manchester United and Portugal

3) Cristiano Ronaldo - Ex-Manchester United and Portugal
Salary, perks and other on-pitch earnings = $ 40 million
Income from endorsements and other off-pitch sources = $ 60 million

Cristiano Ronaldo's return to boyhood club Manchester United for one last hurrah may have ended in a bitter separation, but that didn't stop the Portugese star from pocketing almost $ 40 million as salary and taking the third spot on this list. Currently club-less, the player is reportedly being courted by clubs with deep pockets in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere. Now a free agent, we can safely expect his on-field salary to scale newer heights in the next season.

(Pic: Reuters)

4/5

Neymar Jr - Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and Brazil

Neymar Jr - Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and Brazil

4) Neymar Jr - Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and Brazil
Salary, perks and other on-pitch earnings = $ 55 million
Income from endorsements and other off-pitch sources = $ 32 million

Messi and Mbappe's fellow club player Neymar has shown immense marketability in the recent years. Apart from $ 55 million in salary this year, he also bagged in a hefty $ 32 million from endorsements.

(Pic: PTI)

5/5

Mohamed Salah - Liverpool FC and Egypt

Mohamed Salah - Liverpool FC and Egypt

5) Mohamed Salah - Liverpool FC and Egypt
Salary, perks and other on-pitch earnings = $ 35 million
Income from endorsements and other off-pitch sources = $ 18 million

The fifth spot on this list is taken by Mohamed Salah of Liverpool FC. Egypt's absence from the FIFA World Cup 2022 meant that his presence on billboards was scantier than the others on this list, but $ 35 million in salary secured him a place among the Richie Richs of football. 

(Pic: Reuters)

Source: Forbes Ranking 2022

By accepting cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.

x