10 highest-paid athletes in 2022: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are not on the list

Two-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen earns a salary of approximately £40 million per year for the 2022-2023 season, making him the only athlete in F1 to feature on the list.

Like it or not, Verstappen's style is one of the most stunning to watch. Aggressive and uncompromising, the Dutchman has established himself over the last few years as the number-one rival of British legend Lewis Hamilton. But will Mad Max be able to win a third consecutive world championship in the future?

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is the 9th highest-paid athlete this season. According to L'Équipe, his income without a bonus would amount to an incredible £40 million. 

The Browns' quarterback has been making headlines off the pitch lately. After accusations of sexual assault, Deshaun Watson has been suspended ten games by his club and fined $5 million.

The Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle is ranked 8th on this list. During this season, he earns a stunning £41,05 million. Capable of doing 35 bench presses of 285 pounds, Donald is undisputedly one of the strongest athletes.

The Pittsburgh native was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in 2014 before taking off for the Los Angeles Rams in 2016. Given his stable performance, Aaron Donald has been named Defensive Player of the Year three times (2017, 2018, and 2020).

Like Aaron Donald, the seventh place in the ranking is occupied by an American soccer player. It is Josh Allen, the quarterback of the Buffalo Bills. According to L'Équipe, his income excluding bonuses and endorsements would amount to £41,05 million.

At 6'4", 210+ pounds, it is fair to say Josh Allen is a physical monster that no one wants to encounter. Considered one of the very best at his position, he has been a key part of the Buffalo Bills since 2018 despite only being the seventh pick on this year's list.

The sixth place on this rich list is occupied by one of the most famous basketball players of his generation: Russell Westbrooke. The current point guard of the Lakers would also receive nearly £42 million for this season.

Dubbed Mr. "Triple-Double" of the NBA, Russell Westbrook is a player who can manipulate the ball in the most incredible yet creative ways to score goals. The former Washington Wizards player shot 18.5 points per game last year with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Dubbed the "Baby Faced Assasin", basketball legend Stephen Curry lands fifth place among the best-paid athletes of the 2022-2023 season according to L'Équipe with £42 million earned.

Need to score from the 3-point range? Ask Steph! The Golden State Warriors point guard, professional since 2009, is a four-time NBA champion with the San Francisco franchise. At the time of his last title, Curry was shooting with an average of 25.5 points scored. Incredible feat from the Baby-Faced Assassin.

The Norwegian goal machine Erling Haaland is in fourth place in this ranking. He would receive about £42,86 million for the current season, making him the highest-paid EPL star.

Many people have wondered when Haaland's unstoppable streak of goals would end. The Manchester City striker, who was promised difficulties and time to adapt in the Premier League, is scaring every defender he meets in the best league in the world. With 22 goals so far this season, Erling Haaland is expected to outshine French Golden Boy Kylian Mbappé and become the star of the sport in the future.

The quarterback of the Denver Broncos, Russell Wilson, is in third place in the ranking of the best-paid sportsmen of the season according to L'Équipe with £49,83 million excluding bonuses.

Having played professionally since 2012, Russell Wilson has worn the jersey of the Seattle Seahawks for nearly 10 years before joining the Denver Broncos this year. He is also in a relationship with the singer Ciara.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is the second-highest paid athlete according to the Team over the 2022-2023 season without bonuses. The 34-year-old is expected to earn around £53,79 million this season.

A professional since 2009, Stafford spent the vast majority of his American soccer career with the Detroit Lions before heading to the Los Angeles Rams in 2020. He won the last Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Surprisingly, football icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo do not feature on this list, as the top spot is occupied by PSG talisman Kylian Mbappe. The highest-paid sportsman in the 2022-2023 season, Kylian Mbappé should earn nearly £61,96 million without bonuses.

Mbappe's prolific performance at Monaco got him a place in Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, and he has since taken the world by storm with his talents. The most valuable star of Les Bleus, Kylian Mbappé will have to come out the best of himself during the World Cup in Qatar to, again, help his country win. The former player of Monaco has set a series of records and is now among the best players on the planet.