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– Kylian Mbappe has topped the Forbes list for highest-earning footballers – the first time someone other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo has been number one for nine years.
– Forbes estimate Paris St-Germain forward Mbappe, 23, will earn $128m (£115.2m) this season.
– Mbappe’s PSG team-mate Messi is second on $120m (£108m) and Manchester United forward Ronaldo third on $100m (£90m).
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– Neymar and Mohamed Salah complete the top five.
– PSG and Brazil striker Neymar will earn an estimated $87m (£78.4m) in 2022-23 and Liverpool forward Salah $53m (£47.7m).
– The last player to top the list other than Ronaldo or Messi was former England captain David Beckham in 2013.
– Mbappe signed a lucrative new three-year contract with PSG in May, which ended speculation about a summer move to Real Madrid.
– The France World Cup winner has lifted 11 trophies at the club, including four Ligue 1 titles, since joining from Monaco initially on loan in 2017.
– Erling Haaland, who has scored 19 goals in 12 games for Manchester City since his summer move from Borussia Dortmund, makes his debut in the top 10 at number six.
– The Norway striker is one of four Premier League players in the top 10 along with Ronaldo, Salah and Manchester City team-mate Kevin de Bruyne.
Forbes’ list of highest-paid footballers 2022
1. Kylian Mbappe – $128m (£115.2m
)
2. Lionel Messi – $120m (£108m)
3. Cristiano Ronaldo – $100m (£90m)
4. Neymar – $87m (£78.4m)
5. Mohamed Salah – $53m (£47.7m)
6. Erling Haaland – $39m (£35.1m)
7. Robert Lewandowski – $35m (31.5m)
8. Eden Hazard – $31m (£27.9m)
9. Andres Iniesta – $30m (£27m)
10. Kevin De Bruyne – $29m (26.1m)
The World’s Highest-Paid Soccer Players 2022: Kylian Mbappé Claims No. 1 As Erling Haaland Debuts https://t.co/T7ogQBHWVo by @JustBirny pic.twitter.com/pbdUdmvYig
— Forbes (@Forbes) October 7, 2022
