The World Cup is widely considered the biggest soccer tournament, sometimes maybe lacking in sheer quality but never in popularity. Soccer fans worldwide turn their attention toward the grandest stage, to witness the biggest stars spreading their magic on the pitch. There is no surprise that the highest-paid soccer players will be present in the latest edition of the competition in Qatar 2022.
Kylian Mbappe’s record-breaking new deal
The 23-year-old French superstar Kylian Mbappe’s new contract extension with his club PSG places him on the top of the highest earners in the sport. He will earn $110 million in salaries and an additional $18 million in brand endorsement deals.
It includes the likes of Nike, Sorare, and FIFA23, taking the tally to a staggering $128 million. Just like the top earner, he is also the top scorer in this world cup with 5 goals, eyeing his second World Cup glory already.
How much did Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo earn in 2022
Two of the all-time greats in Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, are also competing toe-to-toe with the young Frenchman for their last chance to get their hands on the only trophy missing from their jaw-dropping trophy cabinet, including 12 Ballons d’Or combined.
The 35-year-old Argentine earns a stunning $750,000 approximately every week. His brand endorsements include a lucrative deal with Adidas, earning him an eye-watering sum of $120 million this year. Argentina has already qualified for the quarter-final, thanks to top-notch performances from the star man, with 3 goals already.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s abilities aren’t matching up to his winning mentality these days. The Portuguese have only one spot-kick goal so far in the World Cup. His explosive interview with Piers Morgan, criticizing the Glazer family and the manager, hasn’t deemed his popularity at all.
He has a following of 509 million on Instagram, making him the highest-followed personality on the entire platform and showing his unquestionable popularity. He is a free agent at the time of the ongoing World Cup. His previous contract with Manchester United earned him $40 million in salaries. The tie-up with Nike and his new NFT collection adds another $60 million to the tally, making it $100 million.
Conclusively, these elite footballers earn nine-figure salaries from their clubs and brand deals. It compares nothing to what they earn in any international tournaments.