Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah is the only African star in the Forbes’ list of highest-paid footballers for the year 2020.
Forbes have released their list for the highest-paid footballers in the world – and there’s only one African star in the top ten list.
Salah is placed fifth in the global 10-man shortlist behind six-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi and Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
Paris Saint-Germain duo Neymar and Kylian Mbappe came in at third and fourth respectively.
Coming just inside the top five is recently-crowned Premier League champion Salah who earned a reported $51m at Liverpool last season.
Forbes have released the top five highest-earning football players in 2020:
1. Lionel Messi = $126 million
2. Cristiano Ronaldo = $117 million
3. Neymar = $96 million
4. Kylian Mbappe = $48 million
5. Mohamed Salah = $37 million🤑🤑🤑 pic.twitter.com/556nfM52ls
— 🎯 Tommy's Darts Tips (@TommysDartsTips) September 16, 2020
Over the past 12 months, the two-time African Footballer of the Year earned a total of $37 million which include a salary of $24 million and endorsement deals worth $13 million.
During the period, Salah enjoyed success with Liverpool on continental and global level before helping them end their 30-year wait for a Premier League title in July.
According to Forbes, their methodology for the list on their website, saying: “To compile our list, we spoke with clubs, players’ agents, commercial sponsors and soccer experts in the U.S. and Europe. All figures are converted to U.S. dollars and include soccer salaries for the 2020-21 season, bonuses and endorsements. Transfer fees are excluded. Earnings are pretax.”
