Football fans often forget that the likes of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe aren't just representing their clubs for the love of the game.

At the end of the day, professional football is a profession for the stars who get fans off their feet in stadiums around the globe. Such is the superstardom that comes with playing at the elite level that footballers become a brand with investors and sponsors eager to partner up.

Take Mbappe, for example, who ditched a long-term Nike partnership to become the face of new Swiss sportswear brand On. Not only does the Real Madrid forward earn a handsome sum on a weekly basis at the Estadio Bernabeu but his off-the-field ventures make him one of the richest men in football.

Forbes has dropped the football rich list regarding the highest-paid players in the world, including their earnings away from the sport. There are some surprise names included as well as some absolutely outrageous earnings.

Mohamed Salah ($40 million)

In 10th place is Mohamed Salah, who left Liverpool in the summer and joined Turkish club Trabzonspor. Would the Turks have had the pull to convince him to make the switch without offering a big-money contract?

Salah makes $20m per year at Papara Park, and he's paying the Super Lig outfit's ambitious owners back with world-class performances. At 34, he signed a two-year deal, and he's guaranteed a 20% royalty on the club's merchandise sells.

The Premier League hero is, of course, a huge star in the Middle East but also worldwide and some of the biggest companies want him promoting their business. Adidas, Pepsi and Vodafone are three lucrative endorsement deals he has maintained, helping him earn just as much off the pitch as he does on it.

Harry Kane ($42 million)

You wouldn't guess Harry Kane is raking it in given his humble personality and tendency to keep a low profile off the pitch rather than feature in commercials for a new pair of trainers. The only piece of footwear he needs are his boots, which have helped fire him into Ballon d'Or contention this year.

That said, Kane is Sketchers' primary football ambassador and works with other partners such as Crayola, Google Gemini and Oura Ring. His ventures away from football are adding $13 million to his bank.

On the pitch, Kane is reportedly closing in on a new contract at Bayern Munich which will likely increase his current $29 million on-field earnings. After his incredible exploits for club and country over the past year, you have to say the Bavarians' money is well spent.

Jude Bellingham ($45 million)

Another one of England's main men, it feels like only yesterday fans were mocking Birmingham City's decision to retire the number 22 shirt to bid farewell to Jude Bellingham. Six years later, he is among the biggest names in football and becoming one of the best players to don a Three Lions shirt.

Some Englishmen have crumbled when heading abroad, not Bellingham, whose inspired displays for Real Madrid have become the norm. While he's making $29 million at the Bernabeu, advertising Adidas' Predator range, working with fashion brands Louis Vuitton and Skims and investing in grooming brand Onside is also adding $16 million to his overall earnings.

Sadio Mane ($54 million)

Perhaps the most surprising name on this list is Sadio Mane, but it's easy to understand why he's one of the best-paid players in the world. For one, he plays in the Saudi Pro League for Al-Nassr and, as one of the faces of Middle Eastern football, he's taking home a staggering $50 million.

The former Liverpool star, like Salah, is a global megastar who has huge reach in Africa but his club earnings mean he doesn't really need to explore endorsement deals. His most prominent one is a long-term partnership with New Balance and his off-field ventures are making him just $4 million.

Lamine Yamal ($55 million)

In a few years' time, there's every chance Lamine Yamal will be at the top of this list as he continues his meteoric rise. The Barcelona winger is still only 19 and as such is the highest-paid teenager in world football.

At Camp Nou, his journey from the La Masia academy to talisman in the Catalans' team has him sitting on $35 million. He is the youngest player featured on Forbes' rich list and is a dream for brands like American Eagle, who are one of his 'dozen sponsors' that add an extra $20 million to his bank account.

Vinicius Junior ($76 million)

While the goals may have dried up for Vinicius Junior, the money certainly hasn't, especially after signing a lucrative new contract with Real Madrid in the summer. His new deal makes him $48 million in the Spanish capital, a figure Arsenal may well have had to match if they were to have signed him.

Vinicius is the biggest name in Brazilian football, taking over from the nearly retired Neymar, and he has 15 partnerships in place. These include Fanatics, Hugo Boss and Brazilian telecom firm Vivo, adding $28 million to his overall earnings.

Erling Haaland ($85 million)

It's anyone's guess where Erling Haaland will be playing his football next year, given Manchester City await an appeal against guilty verdicts for breaching Premier League financial regulations. If relegation awaits, surely the Norwegian striker departs, intending to remain at the elite level.

City probably wouldn't be in a position to continue paying him $60 million and playing in the EFL Championship could complicate branding deals. Boot suppliers Nike, online bank Revolut and Chinese tea business Walovi are among his endorsement deals and they probably wouldn't like the idea of one of their top athletes promoting their brands in the second-tier of English football.

Kylian Mbappe ($100 million)

The highest-paid player in European football is Kylian Mbappe, who sits on $70 million per year at Real Madrid, significantly more than the recently renewed Vinicius. The French forward has been at the Bernabeu since the summer of 2024 and been ruthless in front of goal despite his club's trophy drought.

Mbappe is going down as one of the greatest international players in history, now sitting atop the World Cup all-time goalscoring ranks. He's also entered David Beckham-level of fame, as evidenced by On's desire to make him the face of their football sportswear branding and that's a company that helped tennis icon Roger Federer become a billionaire.

Lionel Messi ($145 million)

No surprise, who are the two top-earning footballers in the world, and Lionel Messi's move to the MLS has only increased his earnings by $70 million yearly. He holds revenue-sharing agreements with league partners Adidas and Apple TV and, once he retires from club football, he'll have the option to acquire an equity stake in Inter Miami whose estimated $1.35 billion worth makes them the MLS' most valuable team.

Messi nearly fired Argentina to another World Cup in the summer but his nation came up short in the final. He bid farewell to international football earlier this month, bowing out in a friendly win over Benin.

The 39-year-old has continued to leave fans stunned in Miami and brands continue to knock at his door for the chance to have him showcase their business. Some of the newest partners of the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner include Mastercard and Michelob while he's unveiled endorsement deals with Open AI and Duracell alongside purchasing Spanish second-tier side Eldense after buying fifth-tier Cornella.

Cristiano Ronaldo ($300 million)

For some, the football GOAT debate ended when Messi won the World Cup in 2022, but when it comes to celebrity status, Cristiano Ronaldo may well come out on top. Not only is he a fashionista who has his own personal CR7 brand, but he is the highest-paid footballer in history, taking home a jaw-dropping $250 million yearly.

To put that into perspective, Portugal have reportedly fined Ronaldo $250 for leaving training during the international break. He earns

$571 per minute, meaning he paid up within 30 seconds.

Aside from his monstrous Al-Nassr contract, he holds equity stakes in startups Perplexity and Whoop along with his own brand. His net worth is estimated to be at $1.2 billion and such is his competitive edge you wouldn't put it past him eyeing Forbes' official rich list once he's scored his 1000th goal and called it a day.