Kylian Mbappé dominates the ranking of football players deserving the highest salaries in the world, with an estimate of 22.8 million euros gross per year according to CIES. This analysis is based on a statistical model taking into account several sporting criteria, including playing time, the level of matches played and the tenure rate over the last year, while also considering the position occupied by the player. Mohamed Salah and Jude Bellingham complete the podium of the best paid players according to these parameters.
The study also shows that offensive players, particularly strikers and wingers, are predominantly at the top of the rankings. Among the other positions, Thibaut Courtois is the best-placed goalkeeper, Virgil van Dijk dominates among central defenders, Achraf Hakimi for full-backs, João Neves for midfielders, and Dominik Szoboszlai is second to Bellingham among attacking midfielders.
The Top 10:
- Mbappé (Real Madrid): 22.8 million euros
- Salah (Liverpool): 17.9 million euros
- Bellingham (Real Madrid): 17.5 million euros
- João Neves (PSG): 17.3 million euros
- Szoboszlai (Liverpool): 17.1 million euros
- Dembélé (PSG): 16.9 million euros
- Alvarez (Atlético): 16.9 million euros
- Martínez (Inter Milan): 16.7 million euros
- Yamal (Barça): 16.7 million euros
- Vinicius (Real Madrid): 16.2 million euros
