StaffProfessional football is one of the most lucrative businesses in 2022. Top football clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, and Real Madrid rake in enormous amounts of money in sponsorship deals and wages.
Elite footballers’ salaries have increased exponentially recently, especially after oil states, oligarchs, and multinationals started owning football clubs. These new entrants have made the game more competitive, attracting even more fans, including football betting fans.
Consequently, there are many sportsbooks for bettors to choose from. If you are an Indian sports betting fan, you can use the 1xbet promo code India to make your sports wagering more interesting. On the other hand, the game’s popularity has also been a blessing in disguise for the players as they get to sign massive endorsement deals which make up a considerable chunk of their salaries.
This article looks at the five highest-paid football stars who earn the highest sums from sponsorships. Let’s dig in.
5. Mohamed Salah
Salary: $24.5 million
Endorsements: $15 million
Salah has cemented his place as one of the most lethal finishers in the world. His prowess on the football pitch has also translated into financial benefits as he signed a £350,000-a-week deal with Liverpool.
Also, his superstar status in Egypt and the MENA region has helped him attract mega deals from top brands like Pepsi, Adidas, Uber, and Vodafone.
4. Neymar
Salary: $56 million
Endorsements: $35 million
Neymar is a top earner in football circles. The Brazilian superstar earns the third-highest salary in the football world. Furthermore, he has also joined the list of footballers who have invested in NFTs and crypto. Reports also suggest that the PSG forward invested a whopping $1 million worth of crypto on two Bored Ape NFTs in January 2022.
3. Lionel Messi
Salary: $62 million
Endorsements: $48 million
Messi has topped the list of the highest earners in football on different occasions. However, recent developments have seen him drop to third.
Nonetheless, he has lucrative endorsement deals for watches, sports drinks, sportswear, fizzy top, video games, beer, crisps, and an oil state.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
Salary: $53 million
Endorsements: $60 million
Ronaldo has half a billion followers on Instagram, which is more than any other human being on the planet. This massive following has seen him become the footballer who earns the highest from sponsorship deals.
However, as he enters the twilight of his career, he has become more of a celebrity than a footballer. After terminating his contract with Manchester United, nearly half a billion people worldwide are waiting to see his next move!
1. Kylian Mbappe
Salary: $105 million
Endorsements: 20 million
Ronaldo and Messi are not occupying the top spot for highest-earning footballers for the first time in over ten years. French rising star Mbappe is not top of the football earning charts.
The PSG forward recently revealed that French President Emmanuel Macron personally convinced him not to join Real Madrid because he was very important to the country. This could explain why PSG are paying him $105 million to keep him at the French capital!
