Until recently, Black football players were the world’s lowest-paid athletes. They are now not just among the highest-paid persons in the world, but also among the wealthiest, thanks to their mega-contracts.
According to Forbes, the world’s top 11 soccer players will earn $995 million this season before taxes and agent fees. According to the magazine, Saudi Pro League players account for more than half of the entire $995 million. According to Forbes, Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest-paid soccer player. The Saudi Pro-League player for Al-Nasser is set to earn $260 million.
Some Black players, like Neymar Jr., Kylian Mbappé, and Sadio Mané, are among the world’s top 11 highest-paid soccer players.
1. Neymar Jr.
Neymar Jr. of Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal is the world’s highest-paid black player. He is expected to make $112 million, including $80 million on the field and $32 million off the field. Puma, Konami, and Red Bull are among his sponsors, and he recently announced a collaboration with the Portuguese horse breeding farm Team Campline, according to Forbes.
2. Kylian Mbappé
Kylian Mbappé is the world’s second highest-paid black player. According to Forbes, he is expected to make $110 million, which includes $90 million on the field and $20 million off the field. Because to his contract with Paris Saint-Germain, he will be the highest-paid footballer in 2022.
Mbappe was born in Paris on December 20, 1998, to Fayza Lamari and Wilfred Mbappe, a French-Cameroonian coach and agent. He made headlines in the football world when he signed for Paris Saint-Germain at the age of 18 in 2017, becoming the club’s second-most expensive player and the most expensive young player in history with a €180 million transfer fee.
3. Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema currently plays in the Saudi Pro League for Al Ittihad. He joined the Saudi behemoth from Real Madrid in Spain. His parents are Algerians, however he was born in Lyon. He made his senior debut for France in 2007 and went on to become the country’s fifth-highest all-time goalscorer. According to Forbes, he is the world’s fifth highest-paid player and the third highest-paid Black player, earning $106 million, which includes $100 million earned on the field and $6 million earned off the field.
4. Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah is a Liverpool FC player from Egypt. The Egyptian soccer star was on the verge of becoming Saudi Arabia’s most expensive signing, with Al Ittihad reportedly offering a $190 million transfer fee. Liverpool, however, turned down the offer. According to Forbes, he earns $53 million, with $35 million earned on the field and $18 million earned off the field.
5. Sadio Mané
Following a season at FC Bayern, Senegalese sensation Sadio Mané became the highest-paid Black African footballer in the world when he joined Saudi Arabia club Al Nassr. His contract also made him the highest-paid Sub-Saharan African player and one of the highest-paid players in the world.
According to Forbes, he earns $52 million, which includes $48 million on the field and $4 million off the field, making him the world’s fifth highest-paid Black athlete.
