adminLONDON. – Footballers’ salaries have been a source of fascination for decades, as the biggest stars on the planet have continued to command eye-watering wages as their fame and profile increases.
As the game has continued to expand across a global stage, the superstars of Europe’s big hitters have seen their bank balances rocket up, with annual records consistently broken.
The on, and off-field, rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has driven a significant portion of this growth, with the duo still amongst the top earners in the game, despite edging closer to retirement.
However, Forbes’ 2022 list of the richest footballers on the planet shows the rise of the next generation of players, with Messi vs. Ronaldo nudged down the pecking order.
That could be about to change, of course.
According to Marca, Ronaldo is prepared to join Al Nassr next month in a deal with close to US$211.4 million per season in Saudi Arabia.
There will be a further US$105.7m due through a signing bonus.
Such a contract would dwarf those of even the very highest earners of the past 12 months.
The Sporting News takes a look at the top 10 players on football’s 2022 ‘Rich List’.
- KYLIAN MBAPPE
Full Name: Kylian Mbappe Lottin
Country: France
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Estimated Annual Income: US$110m/£96m
Estimated Additional Income (off-field earnings): US$18m/£15.6m
- LIONEL MESSI
Full Name: Lionel Andres Messi
Country: Argentina
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Estimated Annual Income: US$65m/£56.7m
Estimated Additional Income (off-field earnings): US$55m/£48m
- CRISTIANO RONALDO
Full Name: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
Country: Portugal
Club: Free agent (previously Manchester United)
Estimated Annual Income (at Manchester United): US$40m/£35m
Estimated Additional Income (off-field earnings): US$60m/£52.3m
- NEYMAR JR.
Full Name: Neymar da Silva Santos Junior
Country: Brazil
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Estimated Annual Income: US$55m/£48m
Estimated Additional Income (off-field earnings): US$32m/£27.9m
- MOHAMED SALAH
Full Name: Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly
Country: Egypt
Club: Liverpool
Estimated Annual Income: US$35m/£30.5m
Estimated Additional Income (off-field earnings): US$18m/£15.7m
- ERLING HAALAND
Full Name: Erling Braut Haaland
Country: Norway
Club: Manchester City
Estimated Annual Income: US$35m/£30.5m
Estimated Additional Income (off-field earnings): US$4m/£3.5m
- ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI
Full Name: Robert Lewandowski
Country: Poland
Club: Barcelona
Estimated Annual Income: US$27m/£23.5m
Estimated Additional Income (off-field earnings): US$8m/£7m
- EDEN HAZARD
Full Name: Eden Michael Hazard
Country: Belgium
Club: Real Madrid
Estimated Annual Income: US$27m/£23.5m
Estimated Additional Income (off-field earnings): US$4m/£3.5m
- ANDRES INIESTA
Full Name: Andres Iniesta Lujan
Country: Spain
Club: Vissel Kobe
Estimated Annual Income: US$25m/£21.8m
Estimated Additional Income (off-field earnings): US$5m/£4.4m
- KEVIN DE BRUYNE
Full Name: Kevin De Bruyne
Country: Belgium
Club: Manchester City
Estimated Annual Income: US$25m/£21.8m
Estimated Additional Income (off-field earnings): US$4m/£3.5m – msn
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