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Dwarfing $503,000,000 Patrick Mahomes Deal, Soccer Legend Packs Bags for Middle East Bagging a Shockingly High Contract

Published 06/05/2023, 5:31 AM EDT

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The NFL market has blown up in recent years and players are getting some insane contracts. Case in point, Jalen Hurts signed a five-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles worth $255 million. Before that, Patrick Mahomes signed a 10-year extension with the Kansas City Chiefs worth a staggering $503 million. But it looks like the NFL has a long way to go before it matches the contract that a soccer legend is close to accepting.

Lamar Jackson is currently the highest paid player in NFL history with a yearly payout of $52 million. That deal with the Baltimore Ravens may look eye-watering in terms of the league but wait till you hear about the amount of money on the table for an outgoing Real Madrid star. He is packing his bags for a middle eastern adventure after bagging a truly shocking contract offer.

Karim Benzema leaves Patrick Mahomes behind

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Real Madrid legend Karim Benzema is leaving Santiago Bernabeu, leaving behind a trail of titles for the Los Blancos. He is off to a new adventure in Saudi Arabia after he got an offer he most definitely couldn’t refuse. Saudi soccer club Al-Ittihad are close to signing the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner on a shocking contract.

The Saudi club has offered a $643 million deal for a three-year stay. This offer blows Patrick Mahomes’ $503 million contract out of the water. If everything goes to plan, Benzema will earn $214 million a year, an amount unheard of in the NFL. Mahomes’ contract with the Chiefs is for a 10-year period so it comes nowhere near the French striker’s yearly payout.

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Benzema has won everything there is to win with Real Madrid. The most decorated player in club history won five UEFA Champions League titles, four Spanish league titles among many others. Now he will join former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi league but as an archrival. So, the soccer market is blowing up but what about the future contracts in the NFL?

The upward trajectory of the NFL contracts

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Karim Benzema might have broken the sports market in general, but the NFL is also on an upward trajectory as far as contracts go. The Eagles made their QB Jalen Hurts the highest paid player in NFL history this offseason. Weeks later, the Ravens broke the bank with Lamar Jackson. And this is certainly not the end of it.

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Patrick Mahomes’ arch-nemesis Joe Burrow is up for an extension with the Cincinnati Bengals. He will surely drive the market upwards. Justin Herbert is also up for an extension after the 2024 season. So the upward trajectory will likely continue.

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The sports market in general is going up. Middle eastern money in soccer has made the insane contracts possible. But the NFL will surely catch up soon as the cap space continues to go up. All in all, a good time to be a sports player and fan.

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Written by:

Shivam Pratap Singh

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Shivam Pratap Singh is a seasoned NFL writer at Essentially Sports. With a master's degree in international and area studies from a prestigious university, Shivam leverages his academic background to gain a deeper understanding of the global impact of sports. Shivam's passion for football developed early in his career as a writer.
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Edited by:

Nidhi