In 2022, Kylian Mbappé rose to become the highest-paid footballer thanks to his contract with Paris Saint-Germain. Despite interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid, the French footballer chose to extend his stay with the Ligue 1 champions, signing a three-year contract that would keep him in Paris until 2025.
Reports indicated that Mbappé’s annual salary would be £42.5 million ($51 million), along with a bonus of £153 million for committing to Parc des Princes. Additionally, he gained full control of his image rights, making it a groundbreaking deal in football. Notably, this contract surpassed Lionel Messi’s last season at Barcelona, where he earned £64 million annually, though Messi later agreed to a significant salary reduction when he moved to PSG.
Mbappé is once again making headlines as Saudi Arabian football side Al-Hilal offered a staggering transfer fee of $332 million for his services. Furthermore, the team is willing to pay the player an astronomical salary of $776 million for a year, according to CBS Sports.
This offer from Al-Hilal surpasses the career earnings of NBA star LeBron James, which are estimated to be around $531 million. In response to the reports about Mbappé’s potential deal, LeBron James jokingly mentioned heading to Saudi Arabia himself.
Born in Paris in 1998 and raised in Bondy, Seine-Saint-Denis, Mbappé’s journey to football stardom was shaped by his father’s guidance and his time at various academies. He attracted attention from numerous teams, both in France and abroad, due to his exceptional talent. Ultimately, he joined AS Monaco before later making a high-profile move to PSG in 2017, where he contributed significantly to the team’s successes.
Mbappé made his debut for the French Senior side during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, and he was honored as the FIFA World Cup Best Young Player that same year. His talent, skill, and achievements continue to make him one of the most sought-after and highest-earning footballers in the world.