(Football news) Kylian Mbappe has topped the Forbes rich list for the highest earning footballers, becoming the only player apart from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to be in first place in the last nine years. The 23 year old Paris Saint-Germain player is set to earn $128m (£115.2m) this season ahead of his teammate Messi $120m (£108m) and Manchester United’s Ronaldo $100m (£90m). 

PSG and Brazil player Neymar is in fourth place with $87m (£78.4m) while Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah will earn $53m (£47.7m). The last player to have earned more than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo was David Beckham in 2013. Mbappe signed a lucrative three year contract with Paris Saint-Germain in May this year, ending possible links to Real Madrid. The Frenchman has lifted 11 trophies at PSG so far, including four Ligue 1 titles since his departure from Monaco in 2017. 

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland also broke into the top 10, making it to sixth place with $39m (£35.1m). The Norwegian is enjoying a stellar season with the reigning champions of England, scoring 19 goals in 12 appearances so far. Haaland, along with Salah, Ronaldo, De Bruyne are the four players who make it to the list in the Premier League while the Norwegian along with Mbappe are the only two players who are under the age of 30. 

Forbes' list of highest-paid footballers 2022

1. Kylian Mbappe: $128m (£115.2m)

2. Lionel Messi: $120m (£108m)

3. Cristiano Ronaldo: $100m (£90m)

4. Neymar: $87m (£78.4m)

5. Mohamed Salah: $53m (£47.7m)

6. Erling Haaland: $39m (£35.1m)

7. Robert Lewandowski: $35m (31.5m)

8. Eden Hazard: $31m (£27.9m)

9. Andres Iniesta: $30m (£27m)

10. Kevin De Bruyne: $29m (26.1m)

Also read: Does Erling Haaland's Manchester City contract have a release clause?