Highest-Paid Football Players In The 2022 FIFA World Cup

Football is one of the most profitable sports around the world, with several lucrative careers: from team management to on-field participation. Interestingly, football players are one of the highest-paid athletes in the world. In this article, you will learn about the top players who got the fattest paycheck at the recently concluded 2022 FIFA World Cup held in Qatar.

It’s no news that Argentina won the 2022 FIFA World Cup, after defeating France in the Finals. From the moment Lionel Messi handed the Copa America champions the lead against France in the 23rd minute of the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, it was clear that Lionel Scaloni’s team was focused on defeating France, the defending champions. They successfully withstood penalties and a late comeback to take home the first-ever winter tournament in Qatar.

With 3.5 billion people watching football globally, it is, without question, the most-watched sport in the world. Therefore, the fact that football players are among the highest-paid individuals shouldn’t come as a surprise. Check out the highest-paid football players in the world who participated in the 2022 World Cup, according to their yearly earnings from playing and endorsements.

10. Antoine Griezmann

Antoine Griezmann at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Country: France

Club: Atlético Madrid

Age: 21 March 1991 (age 31)

Position: Forward

Annual Income: $29 Million

Antoine Griezmann, a forward for Atlético Madrid of La Liga and the France national team, was born on March 21, 1991, in France. After switching from Real Sociedad to Atlético Madrid in 2014, he garnered multiple awards and titles. He was nominated for the Ballon d’Or and Best FIFA Men’s Player awards in 2016 and 2018, respectively.

He signed with rivals Barcelona, where he won a Copa del Rey, before making a loan return to Atlético Madrid in 2021. Griezmann has participated in more than 110 international tournaments since making his senior debut for France in 2014, and that number continues going up. His annual pay is currently $29 million.

9. Kevin De Bruyne

Highest-Paid 2022 World Cup Players: Kevin De Bruyne

Country: Belgium

Club: Manchester City

Age: 28 June 1991 (age 31)

Position: Midfielder

Annual Income: $29 Million

Kevin De Bruyne, a professional football player from Belgium, was born on June 28, 1991. He plays as a midfielder for the Premier League team, Manchester City, and the Belgium national team, earning $29 million annually. Before joining Manchester City in the summer of 2015, De Bruyne played for clubs including Chelsea, Werder Bremen, Wolfsburg, and Genk.

He has since contributed to the team winning four Premier League titles, five League Cups, and an FA Cup. In 2010, De Bruyne made his full international debut for Belgium. Since then, he has played in over 90 matches and scored 25 goals.

Additionally, he had signed agreements with companies like Orange, Nike, and EA Sports. De Bruyne, who is regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world, won the Player of the Match award during Belgium vs. Canada’s opening of the 2022 World Cup match.

8. Raheem Sterling

Highest-Paid Football Players In The 2022 FIFA World Cup

Country: England

Club: Chelsea

Age: 8 December 1994 (age 28)

Position(s): Winger, attacking midfielder

Annual Income: $29.4 Million

Raheem Shaquille Sterling was born on December 8, 1994. He plays as a winger and attacking midfielder for the Premier League club Chelsea and the England national team. Prior to joining Liverpool in 2010, he began his professional career with Queens Park Rangers.

Before going to Chelsea in the 2022 transfer window, he was signed by Manchester City in July 2015 and helped the team win the Premier League back-to-back in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022. Currently, he earns $29.4 million a year. After making his senior England debut in 2012, Sterling was chosen to represent his country in the 2014, 2018, and 2022 FIFA World Cups.

7. Robert Lewandowski

Country: Poland

Club: Barcelona

Age: 21 August 1988 (age 34)

Position: Striker

Annual Income: $34 Million

On August 21, 1988, Robert Lewandowski, a Polish professional football player who plays as a striker for La Liga Club Barcelona and captains the Poland national team, was born. In his senior career, he has more than 500 goals for clubs and the country. Since 2008, Lewandowski has competed for Poland, having over 130 match appearances.

He is Poland’s all-time best scorer with 77 goals and he also represented his country at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. On and off the field, Lewandowski currently earns $34 million annually.

Both FIFA and the Union of European Football Associations awarded him player of the year in 2020. His abilities have garnered him four different entries in the Guinness Book of World Records.

With 41 goals at the end of the 2020–21 season, Lewandowski set a 49-year scoring record and contributed to Bayern’s ninth consecutive league title. He has sponsorship agreements with Huawei, Procter & Gamble, and Nike, according to Forbes.

6. Eden Hazard

Country: Belgium

Club: Real Madrid

Age: 7 January 1991 (age 31)

Position (s): Winger, attacking midfielder

Annual Income: $37.9 Million

On January 7, 1991, Eden Michael Walter Hazard was born. He is a professional football player for Real Madrid of La Liga and the Belgian national team. He plays as a winger or attacking midfielder. Hazard’s senior international debut for Belgium took place in November 2008. He has since represented Belgium in nearly 120 games. With a yearly income of $37.9 million, he has served as Belgium’s captain since 2015.

When he was moved from Chelsea to Madrid in 2018, the player, who was 27 at the time, was regarded as a legend. His player’s market value was around $156 million.

After recurring injuries limited his playing time during his 2021–2022 season to three games, his market value worth had dropped to $7.8 million in 2022. He has been labelled a poor return on investment by Forbes.

5. Gareth Bale

Country: Wales

Club: Los Angeles FC

Age: 16 July 1989 (age 33)[

Position: Winger

Annual Income: $43 Million

Gareth Frank Bale, a professional football player for Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC and the Wales national team, was born on July 16, 1989. Bale began his professional career at Southampton before moving on to Tottenham Hotspur in 2007. He remained there until joining Real Madrid in 2013.

He now plays for the MLS team Los Angeles. Bale made his senior international debut for Wales in May 2006, and he had a major impact on the participation of his nation in the FIFA World Cup in 2022. Gareth Bale earns $43 million annually.

4. Neymar Jr.

Highest-Paid Football Players In The 2022 FIFA World Cup

Country: Brazil

Club: Paris Saint-Germain

Age: 5 February 1992 (age 30)

Position: Forward

Annual Income: $91 Million

He was given the name Neymar da Silva Santos Junior when he was born on February 5, 1992, but he is well known as Neymar. This Brazilian professional footballer, who plays forward, is a player for both Paris Saint-Germain and the Brazil national team.

Before heading to Europe to join Barcelona, Neymar made his professional debut with Santos at the age of 17. Before moving to PSG in 2017, he had a productive time at Barcelona, winning the UEFA Champions League, Copa del Rey, and La Liga. He presently earns $91 annually.

Among others, Neymar presently has sponsorship agreements with Puma, Mastercard, McDonald’s, EA Sports, and Gillette. He apparently spends a significant portion of his income on NFTs, luxurious homes, and expensive vehicles.

3. Cristiano Ronaldo

Highest-Paid Football Players In The 2022 FIFA World Cup

Country: Portugal

Club: Al Nassr

Age: 5 February 1985 (age 37)

Position: Forward

Annual Income: $113 Million

Ronaldo, also known as CR7, is a recognized figure in the world of sports. The Portuguese player first found success in his career with Manchester United. He then played for Real Madrid, and Juventus, returned to Manchester United, again, and is currently playing for Al Nassr. The 37-year-old attacker, who also serves as team captain for Portugal, is the only male player to have scored in five different World Cups.

He was unable to lead Portugal to a World Cup triumph, which made him post an emotional Instagram message that hinted at his potential retirement from international competitions. The football player departed Qatar without a club team after Manchester United terminated his contract for criticizing the club’s management and owners.

2. Lionel Messi

Highest-Paid Football Players In The 2022 FIFA World Cup

Country: Argentina

Club: Paris Saint-Germain

Age: 24 June 1987 (age 35)

Position: Forward

Annual Income: $120 Million

Messi, who has a well-known reputation in the football world, has been playing for over ten years, first for FC Barcelona and before moving to Paris Saint-German in 2020. The forward from Argentina is currently the second-highest-paid player in football, but his net worth increased by nearly 20% as he helped Argentina win the 2022 World Cup this year.

Messi’s talent lies in his versatility as an attacker and midfielder. Seven times in total, he has won the “Ballon D’or” prize. He has endorsement agreements with brands including Adidas, Pepsi, and Budweiser. Recently, Messi established a business that makes investments in prospective sports franchises and media companies.

1. Kylian Mbappe

Country: France

Club: Paris Saint-Germain

Age: 20 December 1998 (age 24)

Position: Forward

Annual Income: $128 Million

Kylian Mbappé Lottin, a professional football player who plays for both the France national team and Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain, is the highest-paid football player on this list. He was born in Paris on December 20, 1998. Mbappé joined Monaco, where he won the Ligue 1 title, in 2015 to begin his professional club career.

Mbappé joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 when he was 18 years old, and the team has since won numerous trophies thanks to him. After Pelé, he became the second teenager to score in a World Cup Final at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which France won, making history as the youngest French player to do so. He presently earns around $128 million annually.

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Summary

The World Cup is consistently one of the most exciting spectacles in sports, despite all the controversies surrounding this year’s competition in Qatar. There is a sense of scarcity surrounding the tournament because it only occurs once every four years.

Players also represent their native nations at the World Cup. A player like Lionel Messi, who has represented Spain and France club in the past, now represents Argentina in an attempt to help his country in winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which he did! Based on their estimated salary and sponsorships for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, below is a summary of the highest-paid football players.

Top 10 Highest-Paid Football Players In The 2022 FIFA World Cup

Sources: TheRichest, Forbes