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.
Of course, that all changed at the end of December, when it was announced that Ronaldo would be joining Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr on a contract that makes the five-time Ballon d’Or winner the best-paid footballer in history.
The Sporting News takes a look at the top 10 players on football’s 2022 ‘Rich List’.
MORE: Most goals in Champions League history: Ronaldo, Messi and the all-time leading scorers
1. CRISTIANO RONALDO
- Full Name: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
- Country: Portugal
- Club: Al Nassr
- Estimated Annual Income: £175m/$200m
- Estimated Additional Income (off-field earnings): $60m/£52.3m*
*Figure from before Al Nassr contract was agreed
2. KYLIAN MBAPPE
- Full Name: Kylian Mbappe Lottin
- Country: France
- Club: Paris Saint-Germain
- Estimated Annual Income: $110m/£96m
- Estimated Additional Income (off-field earnings): $18m/£15.6m
3. LIONEL MESSI
- Full Name: Lionel Andres Messi
- Country: Argentina
- Club: Paris Saint-Germain
- Estimated Annual Income: $65m/£56.7m
- Estimated Additional Income (off-field earnings) $55m/£48m
4. NEYMAR JR.
- Full Name: Neymar da Silva Santos Junior
- Country: Brazil
- Club: Paris Saint-Germain
- Estimated Annual Income: $55m/£48m
- Estimated Additional Income (off-field earnings): $32m/£27.9m
5. MOHAMED SALAH
- Full Name: Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly
- Country: Egypt
- Club: Liverpool
- Estimated Annual Income: $35m/£30.5m
- Estimated Additional Income (off-field earnings): $18m/£15.7m
6. ERLING HAALAND
- Full Name: Erling Braut Haaland
- Country: Norway
- Club: Manchester City
- Estimated Annual Income: $35m/£30.5m
- Estimated Additional Income (off-field earnings): $4m/£3.5m
7. ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI
- Full Name: Robert Lewandowski
- Country: Poland
- Club: Barcelona
- Estimated Annual Income: $27m/£23.5m
- Estimated Additional Income (off-field earnings): $8m/£7m
8. EDEN HAZARD
- Full Name: Eden Michael Hazard
- Country: Belgium
- Club: Real Madrid
- Estimated Annual Income: $27m/£23.5m
- Estimated Additional Income (off-field earnings): $4m/£3.5m
9. ANDRES INIESTA
- Full Name: Andres Iniesta Lujan
- Country: Spain
- Club: Vissel Kobe
- Estimated Annual Income: $25m/£21.8m
- Estimated Additional Income (off-field earnings): $5m/£4.4m
10. KEVIN DE BRUYNE
- Full Name: Kevin De Bruyne
- Country: Belgium
- Club: Manchester City
- Estimated Annual Income: $25m/£21.8m
- Estimated Additional Income (off-field earnings): $4m/£3.5m
