The French striker will receive 131 million euros, 112.6 million thanks to his new contract with Paris Saint-Germain and 18.4 million via his sponsors. Fourth last year, Mbappé dethroned the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo and the Argentinian Lionel Messi, who alternated in first place for eight years.
In its analysis, Forbes points out that when Ronaldo and Messi first crossed the $100 million mark in total annual earnings, both in 2018, they were already in their thirties. Mbappé exceeds this bar of 100 million dollars (102.5 million euros) when he is only 23 years old.
Messi, 35, Mbappé’s teammate, ranks second with 122.9 million euros (66.6 million salary, 56.3 million sponsors). Still first last year, Ronaldo, 37, fell to third position with 102.4 million euros in income (41 million salary, 61.4 million sponsors).
A third PSG player is in fourth position, Neymar with 89.1 million euros (56.3 million salary, 32.8 million sponsors). Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) completes the top-5, with 54.3 million euros (35.9 million euros in salary, 18.4 million in sponsors).
Two Belgians are present in the top-10: Eden Hazard, eighth, and Kevin De Bruyne, tenth. Hazard will receive 31.8 million euros during this season, 27.7 million from Real Madrid and 4.1 million from his sponsors. De Bruyne’s earnings are estimated at €29.7m. Manchester City will pay him 25.6 million euros and his sponsors 4.1 million.
The top-10 also includes Erling Haaland (Manchester City) in sixth position, Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) in seventh and Andrés Iniesta (Vissel Kobe) in ninth.