Forbes' top 2023 list of the world's richest football players

IKEJA, Nigeria - Oct. 17, 2023 - PRLog -- Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest-paid footballer in the world in 2023, earning more than the likes of Lionel Messi and Neymar during the past 12 months, according to Forbes. Ronaldo, who Forbes also ranks as the highest-paid athlete of any sport, topped the list with expected total earnings of $260 million. The influence of the Saudi Pro League is clearly seen in Forbes' list with four players (Ronaldo, Neymar, Karim Benzema and Sadio Mane) in the top 11 earners worldwide.

According to Forbes, the four Saudi Pro League players' combined income counts for more than half of the $995m collectively earned by all 11 players on the rich list. Kylian Mbappé comes in next on the rankings, narrowly behind his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Neymar, with total earnings of $110m.

Manchester City's Erling Haaland was the highest-paid Premier League player with a total annual income higher than those of Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and teammate Kevin De Bruyne. Forbes said its on-field earnings figures include all prize money, salaries and bonuses earned in the past 12 months while off-field earnings are an estimate of sponsorship deals, appearance fees, licensing income and cash returns from businesses they operate.

Forbes top 11 world's richest footballer includes;

1. Cristiano Ronaldo ($260m)

2. Lionel Messi ($135m)

3. Neymar ($112m)

4. Kylian Mbappé ($110m)

5. Karim Benzema ($106m)

6. Erling Haaland ($58m)

7. Mohamed Salah ($53m)

8. Sadio Mane ($52m)

9. Kevin De Bruyne ($39m)

10. Harry Kane ($36m)

11. Robert Lewandowski ($34m)

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