$300 MILLION? TOP 10 Highest Earning Footballers 2022. Messi vs Ronaldo who earned more?

  1. Kylian Mbappé

Total Earnings: $130 million

WAGES: $110 mil • ADVERTISEMENTS: $20 mil | AGE: 23

INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS: 77.7 mil | CLUB: PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN | NATIONAL TEAM: FRANCE

After collecting three of the last four FRENCH LEAGUE Player of the Year Awards, Kylian Mbappé has already cemented himself as the superstar of French football. He has also flexed that influence of late. Kylian Mbappé refused to participate in a photoshoot and other sponsorship activities in protest of the French national team’s choice of sponsors and image rights; the FFF has announced it will review the matter.

 

  1. Lionel Messi

Total Earnings: $122 million

WAGES: $65 mil • ADVERTISEMENTS: $57 mil | AGE: 35

INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS: 364 mil | CLUB: PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN | NATIONAL TEAM: ARGENTINA

 

Messi already has won 7 Ballon D’Ors. Lionel Messi already earns a heavily on and off the pitch, but as the industry experts suggest that figure could grow by as much as 40% if Lionel Messi manages to lead Argentina to a World Cup victory in November. (The nation is among one of the favourites.) Either way, the 35-year-old star has publicly said Qatar 2022 will “surely” be his final participation on the World Cup.

  1. Cristiano Ronaldo

Total Earnings: $105 million

WAGES: $40 mil • ADVERTISEMENTS: $65 mil | AGE: 37

INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS: 506 mil | CLUB: MANCHESTER UNITED | NATIONAL TEAM: PORTUGAL

Cristiano Ronaldo has won 5 Ballon D’Ors. Despite a heavy decrease in playing time, Ronaldo is among the worlds highest earning athlete off the pitch thanks to partners like Nike, Herbalife and Livescore. Reports suggest Cristiano Ronaldo could be hunting for a new home during the upcoming January transfer window, giving him a chance to return to Champions League play (Manchester United didn’t qualify for 2022-23 season). He also boasts an astonishing 506 million followers on INSTAGRAM.

 

  1. Neymar Jr.

Total Earnings: $88 million

WAGES: $55 mil • ADVERTISEMENTS: $32 mil | AGE: 30

INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS: 185 mil | CLUB: PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN | NATIONAL TEAM: BRAZIL

Despite never wining the Ballon D’Or. Neymar made history in 2017 with a record $263 million transfer to Paris Saint-Germain. In May 2021, he signed a new contract through 2025, and played a pivotal role to convince Messi to come aboard later that year. Neymar continues to excel as a pitchman, adding Ooredoo Group as a sponsor in advance of the World Cup.

 

  1. Mohamed Salah

Total Earnings: $55 million

WAGES: $35 mil • ADVERTISEMENTS: $20 mil | AGE: 30

INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS: 55mil | CLUB: LIVERPOOL | NATIONAL TEAM: EGYPT

After winning multiple Premier league Player of the Year and after a stellar season that nearly delivered Liverpool the Premier League title on the last day of the season, Mohamed Salah was named England’s Men’s Footballer of the Year and Playmaker of the Season, and also received the league’s Golden Boot Award. In July, he signed a three-year extension to stay with Liverpool through 2025, and he remains one of Adidas’ biggest global super stars.

 

  1. Erling Haaland

Total Earnings:  $40 million

WAGES: $35 mil • ADVERTISEMENTS: $5 mil | AGE: 22

INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS: 22.3 mil | CLUB: MANCHESTER CITY | NATIONAL TEAM: NORWAY

Being touted as next big thing in football. Forbes estimates Haaland earns $4 million in endorsements annually from sponsors like Hyperice, Samsung and Viaplay, but that number is poised to climb in coming years. Experts suggest Haaland’s next shoe deal could be worth as much as $18 million annually. His previous agreement with Nike expired this year in 2022.

 

  1. Robert Lewandowski

Total Earnings: $35 million

WAGES: $27 mil • ADVERTISEMENTS: $8 mil | AGE: 34

INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS: 32.2 mil | CLUB: BARCELONA | NATIONAL TEAM: POLAND

After his much awaited move to Barcelona Lewandowski has been quick to justify the roughly $45 million transfer fee FC Barcelona paid in 2022 to acquire him from Bayern Munich, with 12 goals in ten matches played. The Barcelona Forward is endorsed by Nike and has his own “RL9” clothing line.

  1. Eden Hazard

Total Earnings:  $32 million

WAGES: $27 mil • ADVERTISEMENTS: $5 mil | AGE: 31

INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS: 28.1 mil | CLUB: REAL MADRID | NATIONAL TEAM: BELGIUM

Despite Hazard’s disappointing tenure with Real Madrid—six goals in 72 La Liga and Champions League matches spread over four seasons—has never ending rumors of a return to Chelsea. The 31-year-old previously appeared on the cover of EA Sports’ FIFA 20 video game.

 

  1. Andrés Iniesta

Total Earnings:  $ 31 million

WAGES: $25 mil • ADVERTISEMENTS: $6 mil | AGE: 38

INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS: 44.3 mil | CLUB: VISSEL KOBE | NATIONAL TEAM: SPAIN

 

After scoring the famous world cup final goal in 2010 the famous 38-year-old launched his own sportswear brand in September. Called Capitten, it launched with a limited-edition launch of a signature cleat and is aimed toward the Japanese market. Iniesta will also appear in an upcoming documentary about the FIFA World Cup.

 

  1. Kevin De Bruyne

Total Earnings: $30 million

WAGES: $25 mil • ADVERTISEMENTS: $5 mil | AGE: 31

INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS: 20.1 mil | CLUB: MANCHESTER CITY | NATIONAL TEAM: BELGIUM

 

Having won multiple premier league player of the year awards and despite signing with Roc Nation in 2019, De Bruyne and his father led negotiations that led to his latest contract with Manchester City, employing the help of data firm Analytics FC with the process. He has 11 brand deals that include Nike, Wow Hydrate, Credit Karma and Therabody.

 

 

Leave a Reply

Sign up for our Newsletter