NEW YORK: Paris St Germain forward Kylian Mbappe (pix) has emerged as the world’s highest paid football player according to Forbes magazine, the first time a player other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo has topped the list in eight years.
Mbappe, 23, is estimated to earn US$128 million for the 2022-23 season before agents’ fees, a record for Forbes’ annual rankings, with PSG team mate Messi second at US$120 million and Manchester United’s Ronaldo (US$100 million) occupying third spot.
PSG’s Neymar (US$87 million) and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah (US$53 million) rounded off the top five.
Erling Haaland, who has made a blistering start to his Manchester City career after joining the club from Borussia Dortmund in the close season, makes his debut in the top 10 with earnings of US$39 million.
The rise of Frenchman Mbappe and Norwegian Haaland, the only players under the age of 30 on the list, signals a shift in the global game, the Forbes report said, as Messi and Ronaldo edge closer to the end of their glorious careers.
In total, the 10 highest paid football players are expected to collect record earnings worth US$652 million this season, up 11% from last year’s US$585 million. - Reuters
