Who is Europe’s richest star after Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar exit?

In recent years, football has become one of the highest-grossing sports. Big-name players such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar Jr. all signed big-money deals later in their careers, moving away from center stage. However, European football is still considered the best place for global talent to make a name for themselves. They became Europe’s richest football stars after some of the biggest names in football history left.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi quit European football

Two of the greatest football stars of their generation, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, shocked their fans when they decided to leave European football. Everyone was surprised when the Portuguese superstar signed a huge contract with Al Nasr worth over $500 million. Similarly, when fans expected La Pulga to return to Barcelona, ​​the Argentine abandoned his former club and traveled to the United States to join Inter Miami.

Both of them are the richest football stars in the world. The Argentinian has a massive net worth of $600 million, with Cristiano Ronaldo just $100 million behind, with a net worth of $500 million. However, since their departure from Europe, it seems a new wave of stars have taken their place.

1. Kylian Mbappe $180 million

The Paris Saint-Germain superstar has become one of the biggest names in football in recent years and is currently worth $180 million. The French World Cup winner has made a name for himself with his spectacular performances. Kylian Mbappe became the talk of the town when he received an offer of more than $700 million for a season in the Saudi Professional League.

The French striker has become one of the biggest stars in the sport. The player’s current base salary exceeds $100 million and off-field bonuses are approximately $20 million. The French star also owns his own image rights and has multiple brand endorsements, making him Europe’s richest footballer.

2. Paul Pogba – $125 million

After his fellow Frenchman, Juventus player Paul Pogba ranks second with a net worth of $125 million. Pogba has made a living after playing for Manchester United and Juventus for many years. The player was once considered one of the best midfielders in the world. However, a period of injuries set his career back. Currently, Pogba’s annual salary at Juventus is US$28 million, plus bonuses. The Frenchman is expected to earn $6-10 million a year from endorsements.

3. Antoine Griezmann – $90 million

After Kylian Mbappe and Paul Pogba, another Frenchman joins the list, with Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann in third place with a net worth of $90 million. The Rojiblancos star received a massive salary in 2019, when Barcelona spent around $120 million to sign him.

However, the player did not quite live up to expectations and returned to the Spanish capital to join his former club. However, the French World Cup winner has started to regain his previous form and currently earns around $26 million playing for Atletico Madrid.

4. Mohamed Salah – $90 million

“King of Egypt” Mohamed Salah is the fourth player to join the French trio. The Liverpool ace has been an important player for the Premier League team. Salah has become one of the best players in football, helping Liverpool win the UCL title in 2019. The Egyptian is also on the radar of Saudi Arabian outfits this summer, along with Kylian Mbappe. Saudi team Al-Ittihad is interested in the player’s signature and is willing to spend more than $200 million for the player.

Similar to Griezmann, Salah has a net worth of $90 million. The Liverpool star signed a $15 million per year contract with Liverpool in 2018. However, despite Salah’s original contract, Salah’s performance and additional bonuses helped increase his salary to $24 million.

5. Robert Lewandowski – $85 million

Last but not least, the fifth man on the list is Polish forward Robert Lewandowski. The current Barcelona star has a net worth of $85 million. Lewandowski rose to fame as a goalscoring machine during a stellar career at Bayern Munich. Even though the Polish forward is the oldest player on this list at thirty-five, he still netted $24 million from FC Barcelona. The Polish star moved to Barcelona last season and became a key player in the team, helping the team win the La Liga championship.

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