They are two of the biggest names in sport: Lionel Messi, an all-time great, and Kylian Mbappe, a rapidly emerging superstar with the world at his feet.
All eyes will be on the duo when they go head to head in the final of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with either Argentina or France set to become champions.
For Messi, it is likely his last chance to claim World Cup glory, with the trophy eluding the 35-year-old on four previous occasions, including the 2014 tournament which saw Argentina fall at the final hurdle against Germany.
Mbappe, however, could win his second World Cup at the age of 23, having scored in the 2018 final to help France to a victory over Croatia.
However, while it will be heartbreak for one of them, they can be sure to console themselves with the fact that they are among the highest-paid humans in the world, taking home staggering wages from their shared club side, Paris Saint-Germain, as well as huge sponsorship deals.
But, while neither of them are particularly strapped for cash, who is worth the most: Messi or Mbappe? We take a look:
How much do Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe earn per week?
Lionel Messi has been the highest-paid footballer in the world for years, having first burst onto the scene way back in 2004 and quickly becoming an all-time great, with many regarding him as the best player in history.
His sensational ability was rewarded handsomely during his time at FC Barcelona, with the Argentine star set to sign a deal worth approximately £1.1 million per week in 2021 before he was forced to leave the club he had spent his career at as the Spanish side was unable to complete the deal due to La Liga financial rules. He then moved to French champions Paris Saint-Germain, where he is reportedly paid around £700,000 per week by the club.
However, if you thought this deal would have left the Ligue 1 side strapped for cash, you'd be wrong, as it handed out the biggest ever contract in football history to their other superstar, Kylian Mbappe, earlier this year. Mbappe looked set to leave the club during the summer and had reportedly agreed personal terms with Real Madrid, but wound up staying in Paris and signing a massive contract which sees him reportedly earn around £1million per week in wages alone.
What is Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe's net worth?
Kylian Mbappe's net worth is thought to be a colossal £150m, with his earnings on and off the pitch taken into account. This figure is boosted by his sponsorship deals with brands including Nike, Panini and Dior.
However, despite his PSG teammate now being paid more than him per week, it is Messi who has the highest net worth, which is said to be a staggering £600m.
As well as his huge wage from the French champions, he also earns a significant amount through sponsors, having first signed a long-term deal with Adidas in 2006, while also representing the likes of Pepsi, Mastercard and Turkish Airlines and being the face of video games including Pro Evolution Soccer and FIFA.
Have Messi and Mbappe appeared in a World Cup final before?
It is the biggest stage in world football, but the World Cup final is familiar territory for both Messi and Mbappe, with both of them reaching it once before.
However, there were different endings for the PSG teammates, with Messi's Argentina suffering a heartbreaking extra-time loss to Germany in the 2014 final, while Mbappe became the youngest player since Pele to score in a World Cup final when he netted in France's 4-2 win over Croatia to lift the trophy in 2018.
The 2022 tournament is actually Messi's fifth World Cup, with his appearance in the final seeing him become the player with the most World Cup appearances (26). His semi-final appearance saw him equal Lothar Matthaus' haul of 25.
Who are the highest-paid footballers in the world?
According to the latest rankings by Forbes magazine, Mbappe is set to become the highest-paid footballer in the world for the first time, earning around £6m more than Messi during the 2022-23 season. This is due largely to his staggering £90m on-field earnings.
The top 10 highest-paid footballers in the world, according to Forbes, are:
- Kylian Mbappé - 23 - Paris Saint-Germain - £105m (£90m on-field, £15m off-field)
- Lionel Messi - 35 - Paris Saint-Germain - £99m (£54m on-field, £45m off-field)
- Cristiano Ronaldo - 37 - unattached - £82m (£33m on-field, £49m off-field)
- Neymar Jr - 30 - Paris Saint-Germain - £71m (£45m on-field, £36m off-field)
- Mohamed Salah - 30 - Liverpool - £44m (£29m on-field, £15m off-field)
- Erling Haaland - 22 - Manchester City - £32m (£29m on-field, £3m off-field)
- Robert Lewandowski - 34 - Barcelona - £29m (£22m on-field, £7m off-field)
- Eden Hazard - 31 - Real Madrid - £25m (£22m on-field, £3m off-field)
Andrés Iniesta - 38 - Vissel Kobe - £25m (£21m on-field, £4m off-field)
Kevin De Bruyne - 31 - Manchester City - £24m (£2m on-filed, £3m off-field)
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