Kylian Mbappe is on the verge of becoming the highest-paid athlete in history if he completes his record-breaking transfer to Al-Hilal this summer. The Saudi Pro League team has made a jaw-dropping £259 million bid for the Frenchman, and club officials are reportedly ready to offer him an astonishing £11.6 million per week, totaling over £600 million per year.
If Mbappe accepts this proposed wage, he will surpass the earnings of football superstars Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar. Ronaldo currently holds the title of the highest-earning sports star after joining Al Nassr in January, where he now rakes in £173 million per year, a significant increase from his time at Manchester United.
Mbappe’s potential move would also overshadow the salaries of other top athletes. Karim Benzema, Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid teammate, earns a similar amount at his new club Al-Ittihad, bringing in £172 million per year. Messi, who recently started a new chapter in the USA with Inter Miami, earns £48 million annually, far below his old Clasico rivals.
Even N’Golo Kante, the former Chelsea star who made a lucrative move to the Middle East, falls behind Mbappe in terms of earnings. However, Kante is expected to make a substantial income from endorsements.
Mbappe’s potential salary would not only surpass that of footballers but also dwarf the earnings of athletes from other sports. Golf star Phil Mickelson recently made headlines by joining the controversial rebel LIV Golf league and received a signing bonus of around £142 million from the Saudi-backed tour. Formula One driver Max Verstappen takes home £44 million per year, significantly more than his rival Lewis Hamilton. In basketball, Nikola Jokic and Stephen Curry are the highest-paid stars, earning over £42 million per year.
If Mbappe’s transfer to Al-Hilal goes through, he will undoubtedly secure his place as the highest-paid sportsman in the world, leaving fans and pundits in awe of his astronomical earnings.
