Football players are among the highest celebrity earners across the globe. Like musicians, film actors, and show hosts, footballers also make money on and off the field. Some have also established enterprises to not only make more money but to create employment for others.
Forbes’s recent publication on the top ten football (soccer) earners names Barcelona star Lionel Messi as the highest-paid player in the world, followed by Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi topped the spot with $126 million while Ronaldo ranked No. 2 with $117 million. Of the top ten football earners in the world, two of them are Blacks of African descent and only one African.
To compile the list, Forbes says it spoke with clubs, players’ agents, commercial sponsors and soccer experts in the U.S. and Europe. “All figures are converted to U.S. dollars and include soccer salaries for the 2020-21 season, bonuses and endorsements. Transfer fees are excluded. Earnings are pretax,” it said.
The following are the highest-paid Black footballers:
Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe plays for top French side Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and the France National Team. Mbappe was signed by PSG from Ligue 1 side Monaco for a record fee of €180 million ($now $219 million) when he was only 18 years.
Forbes puts his total earnings at $42 million. Of the figure, $28 million constitutes his salary. He makes $14 million through endorsement deals.
He was born in Paris and was raised in Bondy, Seine-Saint-Denis. His father, Wilfried, is from Cameroon while his mother, Fayza Lamari, is of Algerian origin.
Mohamed Salah
The Egyptian King, as he is affectionately called, plays for the English side, Liverpool FC. He joined the Merseyside club from Italian side AS Roma. He has previously played for Chelsea Football Club.
Forbes puts his total earnings at $37 million. He earns $24 million as salary and $13 million through endorsement deals. Salah was born on June 15 of 1992 in Nagrig, Basyoun, Egypt. He started his career from the Egyptian side El Mokawloon before moving to Europe to continue with his professional career.
Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba plays for English side Manchester United and the France National Team. He was signed to the Red Devils from Italian Juventus at a record fee of £93.2 million (now $132 million).
Forbes estimates the French playmaker’s total earnings at $34 million. He earns $28 million as salary and $6 million from endorsements from firms such as Adidas and “FIFA” video games.
Pogba was born on March 15 of 1993 in Lagny-Sur-Marne, France. However, his parents come from Guinea, Africa.
