Egyptian international Mohamed Salah has made the Forbes list for highest-earning footballers in 2020.
The Liverpool striker’s earnings are estimated at $37m (£28.5m), leaving him fifth on the top 10 of highest earners and the only African player on the list.
According Forbes, Salah’s salary of $24 million and $13 million in endorsements make up the estimates for 28-year-old who scored a hat-trick for Liverpool at the weekend in their 4-3 win over Leeds United – their first Premier League game of the new season.
“We spoke with clubs, players’ agents, commercial sponsors and soccer experts in the U.S. and Europe,” wrote the Forbes article.
“All figures are converted to U.S. dollars and include soccer salaries for the 2020-21 season, bonuses and endorsements. Transfer fees are excluded.”
Salah estimates also sees him top in the number of Premier League players listed in the top 10, with Manchester United duo of Paul Pogba coming behind the Salah in sixth place at $34m (£26.2m) and goalkeeper David de Gea placed 10th with an estimation of £27m (£20.8m).
Lionel Messi of Barcelona tops the list for highest-earning footballers in 2020. The 33-year-old Argentine is estimated at $126m (£97.2m), with Cristiano Ronaldo in second at $117m (£90.3m).
Forbes list of highest earning footballers:
- Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina) $126m (£97.2m)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus and Portugal) $117m (£90.3m)
- Neymar (Paris St-Germain and Brazil) $96m (£74.1m)
- Kylian Mbappe (Paris St-Germain and France) $42m (£32.4m)
- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool and Egypt) $37m (£28.5m)
- Paul Pogba (Manchester United and France) $34m (£26.2m)
- Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona and France) $33m (£25.5m)
- Gareth Bale (Real Madrid and Wales) $29m (£22.4m)
- Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich and Poland) $28m (£21.6m)
- 10.David de Gea (Manchester United and Spain) £27m (£20.8m)