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Mbappé has been crowned the world’s highest-paid athlete under the age of 25, as per Forbes’ 2024 rankings.
Kylian Mbappé has continued to make the headlines, since announcing his decision to leave Paris Saint Germain at the end of the 2023/24 season.
Amid reports linking him with a sensational transfer to his dream club, Real Madrid, the 25-year-old superstar has now been named the world’s highest-paid under-25 athlete for 2024, according to Forbes.
With his earnings estimated at a mouth-watering $110 million USD over the past year, Mbappé’s financial prowess places him among the world’s highest-paid athletes in 2024.
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22:06 - 05.04.2024
Forbes snubs Ronaldo’s Saudi bosses to crown Steve Ballmer as the World’s Richest Sports Team owner
Despite making Ronaldo the world’s highest-paid athlete, the Saudi billionaires failed to make the list of the world’s richest sports team owners in 2024.
The landscape of athlete earnings has continued to evolve each year, with a notable trend that has seen younger players commanding staggering salaries.
According to Forbes, while traditional American sports leagues have historically limited earnings for players in their early years, recent developments in the NBA and NFL have shifted the paradigm, allowing young talents to capitalize on their potential and take home gigantic paychecks.
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17:27 - 03.04.2024
EXPLAINED Why Messi and Ronaldo are missing from Forbes 2024 Billionaires list
Ronaldo and Messi are not yet Billionaires despite their status as two of the world’s richest footballers.
Mbappé tops Haaland in world’s highest paid athletes under the age of 25
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Mbappé trumped Manchester City’s Norwegian striker, Erling Haaland to become the no.1 highesta-paid u-25 athlete in the world.
Below is a list of the Top 5 highest-paid athletes under the age of 25, according to figures from Forbes.
1, Kylian Mbappé (Football) — $110 million
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Age: 25
Team: Paris Saint Germain
On-Field Earnings: $90 million
Off-Field Earnings: $20 million
Mbappé is the no.1 highest-paid athlete under the age of 25 in the world.
Regardless of where Les Blues’ captain ends up next season, the Paris Saint-German forward remains one of the most marketable footballers of his generation.
Mbappé’s on-field wages is the highest in European football.
Mbappé’ has also consistently been named on Forbes' top 50 highest-paid athletes list since his debut in 2020 as a 21-year-old.
Off the field, the 2018 World Cup winner boasts sponsorship deals with industry giants such as Nike, Oakley, Hublot, and recently, Loewe.
2, Erling Haaland (Football) — $61 million
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Age: 23
Team: Manchester City
On-Field Earnings: $46 million
Off-Field Earnings: $15 million
Erling Haaland has been a phenomenal signing for Manchester City, having led the club to a historic continental treble in his first season in the Premier League.
Haaland has broken all sorts of records since his arrival in England.
Widely considered as one of the best players in the world, the 23-year-old Norwegian was rewarded with a massive Nike contract, the cover of the EA SPORTS FC24 video game, and endorsement deals from fashion (Dolce & Gabbana), fitness (Prime Hydration) and lifestyle (Beats By Dre) brands.
He, alongside Belgian maestro Kevin De Bruyne, are the two highest-paid footballers in the Premier League
3, Luka Doncic (Basketball) — $55.1 million
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Age: 25
Team: Dallas Mavericks
On-Field Earnings: $40.1 million
Off-Field Earnings: $15 million
Dallas Mavericks talisman, Luka Doncic reportedly launched his own production company last year, 77x.
The 25-year-old Slovenian is widely considered one of the best players in the NBA.
His endorsement portfolio features deals with Nike's Jordan Brand, sports card maker Panini and the Slovenian Tourism Board.
As per Forbes, Doncic makes most of his money from a supermax contract extension he signed in 2022.
And should he decide to keep plying his trade with the Mavs when he becomes eligible for his next extension in 2025, he could be looking at a five-year deal worth at least $350 million.
4, Trae Young (Basketball) — $47.3 million
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Age: 25
Team: Atlanta Hawks
On-Field Earnings: $40.3 million
Off-Field Earnings: $7 million
Having been selected to the All-NBA third team during the 2021-2022 season, the 25-year-old Atlanta Hawks sharpshooter qualified for a supermax extension that will see him net nearly $49 million per season by 2026-2027.
In the first year of the deal, Young earned his third All-Star bid before missing extended time with a torn ligament in his finger.
Off the court, Young has sponsorship deals with Adidas and Sprite.
He has also launched his own podcast last and also made an investment in a small stake of a Major League Pickleball team.
5, Zion Williamson (Basketball) — $46.1 million
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Age: 23
Team: New Orleans Pelicans
On-Field Earnings: $34.1 million
Off-Field Earnings: $12 million
After playing just 29 games in the 2022-2023 season, a contract stipulation was triggered that meant Williamson's five-year, $197 million extension would no longer be guaranteed after the 2024-2025 campaign.
This season, Zion Williamson is said to have played a career-high 70 games.
Off the court, Williamson still commands high endorsement fees for sponsors such as Gatorade, Mountain Dew and Nike's Jordan Brand.
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