Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer earnings compared to Kylian Mbappe’s humongous salary offer

Shahida Jacobs
Roger Federer Rafael Nadal Novak Djokovic discuss tactics
(L-R) The Big Three of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic

The football world went bonkers recently when Kylian Mbappe was the subject of a massive transfer offer with a ridiculous salary that would have dwarfed tennis greats Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer’s prize-money earnings over their careers.

Not a football fan? Well, here is a quick lowdown on the transfer offer from Saudi Arabia.

Kylian Mbappe is one of the biggest superstars in football as he won the World Cup with France in 2018 and also finished runner-up in 2022 – setting numerous records along the way – while at club level he has already won six Ligue 1 titles in his native France with five of them coming with his current club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

The attacker joined PSG in 2017 – when he was just 18 – in a deal worth €180 million (roughly £154m at the current exchange rates) and he has become one of the best players in the world since then.

Whereas PSG have in the past been known for spending millions, the tables have turned recently as Saudi Arabia are now also offering megabucks to some of the world’s best players with Cristiano Ronaldo joining the Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League in January this year and he reportedly earns €200m per year (£171m).

However, that is peanuts compared to what Al-Hilal offered to Mbappe in July as they were willing to pay PSG €300m (£258m) for the transfer while the French star would have earned a staggering €700m (£601m) for a one-year contract.

Yes, he would have earned €700,000,000 over 12 months. Remember that figure doesn’t include endorsements.

Kylian Mbappe’s one-year salary offer vs Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer prize-money earnings

So how would that figure have stacked up against what tennis’ three biggest earners – Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer – have made from the sport over the years?

Djokovic currently leads the ATP’s prize-money earnings list as he has made $171,254,424 (£134m or €156m) over the past two decades and it doesn’t come close to what Mbappe would have earned in one year.

Nadal is next on the list and the Spaniard has collected $134,640,719 (£105m or €123m) in prize-money earnings while Federer – who retired last year – made $130,594,339 (£102 or €119).

Even if you add the three greatest tennis players of all time’s career-prize money earnings together (€398m) it still doesn’t come close to that eye-watering €700m that Mbappe would have earned.

Mbappe, though, turned down the offer that would have seen him earn €22 per second, €1,332 a minute, €79,900 an hour, €1.9m a day and €58.33m per month.

Even if you take the top 10 all-time prize money earnings ($575m/€525m) on the ATP it still doesn’t come close to the €700m.

No wonder Nick Kyrgios is so keen on Saudi Arabia expanding into the tennis world.

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