Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe has become the highest-paid footballer in the world, according to Forbes magazine, the first time that a player other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo has topped the list in 8 years.
It is estimated that the 23-year-old Mbappe’s income will reach $128 million for the 2022-2023 season before calculating agent fees, a record in the annual Forbes rankings, as his fellow Paris Saint-Germain teammate Messi ranked second with an income of $ 120 million, while Manchester United's Ronaldo ($100 million) came in third place.
Paris Saint-Germain's Neymar ($87 million) and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah ($53 million) finished the top five.
Erling Haaland, who made a strong start to his career with Manchester City after joining the club from Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season, made his first appearance in the top ten with a profit of $39 million.
The Forbes report said that the rise of Frenchman Mbappe and Norway's Halland, the only two players under the age of 30 on the list, indicates a shift in the direction of global sport, as Messi and Ronaldo approach the end of their brilliant careers.
In all, the top 10 earners are expected to raise $652 million this season, up 11% from $585 million last year.