FX.co ★ World’s 5 highest-paid soccer players

1st place – Kylian Mbappe

At the top of the Forbes list sits the 23-year-old French soccer star, Kylian Mbappe. He earns more than his more experienced colleague from Paris Saint-Germain, Lionel Messi. This season, he will enlarge his capital by a whopping $128 million, a record amount in the world of soccer. As much as $110 million, the largest part, will come from his main activity - soccer. The rest will be Mbappe’s income from partnering with Nike, Dior, Hublot, and other brands. In addition, the player is the owner of a production company and an investor in the Sorare video game.

2nd place – Lionel Messi

Argentinian Lionel Messi takes second place in the annual Forbes ranking. His position on the list has not changed since last year. The legendary player is expected to earn $110 million this season. Interestingly, the titled Paris Saint-Germain scorer will pocket half of this amount from his commercial projects, and not from playing soccer. The 35-year-old star collaborates with Adidas, Samsung, Lay’s, Pepsi, and other popular brands. Above all else, Messi owns The Messi Store, a premium lifestyle brand, and Play Time Sports-Tech, a technology investment company.

3rd place – Cristiano Ronaldo

According to Forbes’ estimates, the 37-year-old soccer star will earn some $100 million this season. The Manchester United striker’s main source of income will come from his active collaborations with famous brands such as Armani, Clear, EA Sports, Herbalife, and, of course, Nike. The soccer legend is also a successful businessman. He is the owner of the clothing, underwear, shoes, and accessories brand, CR7, a chain of fitness clubs, and Pestana CR7 hotels.

4th place – Neymar

This season, the 30-year-old Brazilian soccer star could become richer by almost $90 million. In fact, the largest part of this amount – $55 million – will be his salary and bonuses from playing soccer. The rest will be his income from commercial projects. Neymar partners with Puma, Red Bull, Gillette, and other well-known brands. Investing in esports is Neymar’s additional source of income.

5th place – Mohamed Salah

Last season, the 30-year-old Egyptian was named the best soccer player in the English Premier League. In the summer, Salah re-signed his current contract with Liverpool until 2025. Forbes estimated that the Liverpool forward will earn over $50 million this season, of which $35 million will come from playing soccer. In addition, Mohamed Salah has been an ambassador for Adidas for years now.