The payoff comes following a long dispute over the French national team captain’s salary and bonus payments.

French labour courts on Tuesday ruled on footballer Kylian Mbappe’s contract dispute with his former club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Instead of the €263 million in damages he sought, the Real Madrid forward was ordered to be paid nearly €61 million (~$71.4 million) in unpaid salary and bonuses, according to Al Jazeera.

According to Reuters, the court found that the French club had not disbursed the 26-year-old’s salaries for April, May, and June 2024, before his move to the Spanish club, along with an ethics and signing bonus specified in his contract.

Judges noted that the French club did not provide a written agreement indicating that the French national team captain had agreed to waive his entitlement.

“We are satisfied with the ruling. This is what you could expect when salaries went unpaid,” Mbappe’s lawyer Frederique Cassereau told the press.

“This judgement confirms that commitments entered into must be honoured. It restores a simple truth: even in the professional football industry, labour law applies to everyone,” his legal team further added.

PSG had previously demanded Mbappe pay €440 million due to a failed €300 million transfer to Saudi club Al Hilal.

“Paris Saint-Germain acknowledges the judgement handed down by the Paris labour court, which it will comply with,” the club said in a statement, according to Fox Sports. Adding “PSG has always acted in good faith and with integrity.”