Who are the richest footballers in the world? For years, this has been a topic of heated dispute among sports enthusiasts. It’s no surprise that some of football’s best performers have become millionaires because of the money coming into the sport through television deals and sponsorships. Who, though, has the most money?
There are many candidates for the title of “richest footballer in the world,” including Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr. Who of these celebrities has the highest net worth, though? This article will examine the top earners in the sport of football and identify the true winner of the title of “world’s wealthiest footballer.”
Keep reading to find out who the highest-paid football player is and how much money these stars have made.
A Table Including the Net Worths of the 14 Richest Football Players.
It’s no secret that football is a profitable industry that draws some of the world’s wealthiest people. This list of the 14 wealthiest footballers reveals the salary and net worth of each player.
These football players have earned enormous fortunes thanks to their lucrative careers and average salaries of around $25 million. At the top of the list is the $800+ million dollar fortune shared by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
These numbers highlight the huge financial rewards at the highest levels of the sport for the best players. They make a lot of money from endorsements and sponsorships in addition to their salary. But among football players, Faiq Bolkiah stands out as the undisputed best.
1. Faiq ibn Bolkiah
Faiq Bolkiah has more money than any other professional football player. His wealth as a prince of Brunei is estimated to be $20 billion. Bolkiah is one of the world’s wealthiest men and is ranked among the top 10 highest-paid athletes in the sport of football. His footballing career was brief, despite his enormous wealth.
Early in his career, Bolkiah was a youth player for Chelsea, but he was eventually dismissed owing to a lack of playing time. Leicester City signed him, and he spent a season on loan with Portuguese club Maritimo.
Bolkiah has left the professional football league after appearing on a limited number of occasions for both teams.
Despite his lack of on-field success, Faiq Bolkiah has earned his place in football history as one of the wealthiest players of all time.
Keeping this in mind, let’s dive deeper into the life and career of another one of the world’s wealthiest footballers, Mathieu Flamini.
2. Mathieu Flamini
While Faiq Bolkiah’s wealth is substantial, it is not enough to make him the wealthiest footballer in the world. Mathieu Flamini, a professional footballer for the French national team, holds this title and is worth an estimated $100 million. Flamini has had a stellar career, one in which he has won several titles while playing for some of Europe’s most prestigious clubs.
| Mathieu Flamini | |
|---|---|
| Net Worth | $100 Million |
| Teams Played For | Arsenal, AC Milan, Crystal Palace, Getafe |
| Trophies Won | 3 FA Cups, 2 Supercoppa Italiana titles |
Flamini is not only multilingual (he owns a football academy and a biotech company), but also quite accomplished. His riches originate from multimillion-dollar football contracts and endorsement deals with companies like Nike and Puma.
Many in the sports industry have great regard for his business sense, and he remains an inspiration to young football players all over the world.
Because of his many accomplishments both on and off the field, Mathieu Flamini is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world.
To those who dream of making it big in the sport, he is proof that their goals are within reach if they put in the work. Whether or not Cristiano Ronaldo can surpass him as the wealthiest footballer in the world remains to be seen.
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3. Cristiano Ronaldo
Many people believe that Cristiano Ronaldo is the most paid footballer in the world. His fortune is now estimated at an incredible $450 million. The professional footballer from Portugal has had a very successful career.
With 17 goals in one UEFA Champions League season, he set a new record and has won five Ballon d’Or trophies and four European Golden Shoe titles. He has scored 658 goals in his professional career, making him a legend in the sport.
No one should be surprised by Ronaldo’s massive wealth, given his excellent resume and abilities.
Since joining Manchester United in 2003, he has amassed a fortune from endorsements, wages, bonuses, and other sources. Given his track record, Cristiano Ronaldo is guaranteed to remain among the sport’s all-time greats.
4. David Beckham
David Beckham’s personality, skill, and exploits have solidified his place in the sport’s Hall of Fame. He is the Monet of modern football. Forbes estimates that Beckham is worth $450 million US Dollars, making him the wealthiest footballer in the world.
| Name | Career | Endorsements |
|---|---|---|
| David Beckham | Footballer | Adidas, Pepsi, Samsung etc. |
Beckham’s career spans two decades and includes stints at some of the world’s most elite clubs like Manchester United and Real Madrid. He also represented England in numerous international tournaments.
He also achieved a unique distinction being the first English player to win league titles in England, Spain, the United States, and France. He has earned millions from endorsement deals with companies like Adidas and Pepsi because of his prominence on and off the field.
Beckham is one of the few athletes to achieve global superstardom outside of his chosen field.
He is still a role model for many, proving that dedication and perseverance can lead to success in areas where one may have previously given up.
5. Lionel Messi
As far as footballers go, Lionel Messi is the undisputed king of the bank. As of now, he is a member of Barcelona FC and has played for the Argentina national team since 2004.
Messi is known for his charity work as well as his soccer skills. He recently gave $1 million to help children affected by the recent coronavirus outbreak.
He has also established a charitable organization that collaborates with UNICEF to advance the health and education of disadvantaged children worldwide. Lionel Messi will undoubtedly be a major figure in football for the foreseeable future as he continues to amass wealth and acclaim.
In the future, we will talk about how Dave Whelan became a wealthy footballer by sheer grit and dedication.
Whelan, Dave, No. 6
Who is the highest-paid soccer player in the world? Many people believe that former Wigan Athletic owner Dave Whelan is the richest player in the history of the sport. He is a self-made billionaire with an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion.
Before he bought Wigan Athletic in 1995, he was already a successful businessman, but he used that success to make the club one of the best in England. Before selling it to International Entertainment Corporation in 2018, he was the club’s only owner.
His personal wealth is evidence of his commercial acumen, and the club’s financial success is a direct result of his commitment to the sport over the long term.
Dave Whelan is not just one of the wealthiest footballers in the world, but also one of the most successful owners in the history of English football. Now let’s move on to the following subject: Another footballer with an excellent bank account is Neymar Jr.
7. Neymar, Jr., Ney
Most people think that Neymar Jr., who goes by the name Neymar, is the highest-paid player in the world. He has made a huge amount of money from long-term sponsorship deals and contracts with some of Europe’s best teams.
Paris Saint-Germain just paid the world record transfer fee of €222 million to get the Brazilian star player. Neymar Jr. is thought to have a net worth of $185 million.
It’s no surprise that Neymar Jr. is the wealthiest player in the world, given his excellent portfolio and professional achievements. His achievements on and off the field have made him a household name throughout the world and solidified his position as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
It will be fascinating to observe how his career develops monetarily and athletically going forward. If we want to know who may potentially dethrone Neymar Jr. as the wealthiest footballer in the world, we need to look no further than Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Ibra Ibrahimovic, Number 8
Consider the career of Swedish footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has become one of the sport’s all-time greats and a recipient of several honors and awards. As of the year 2021, it is generally agreed that his estimated net worth of $190 million makes him the wealthiest footballer in the world. In 1999, he debuted professionally with Malmo FF, and in 2001, he signed with Ajax.
Before joining LA Galaxy in 2018, he played for Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, and AC Milan. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that he has amassed a sizeable fortune over the course of his career.
During his lengthy and successful career, Ibrahimovic has won a number of league titles and individual trophies. Both the Swedish national team and several of his past clubs recognize him as their all-time leading goal scorer.
Ibrahimovic has been very successful on the soccer field, and he has also been quite successful in the business world, where he has invested in a number of different firms all around Europe. This has helped him immensely in terms of his money, solidifying his position as one of the wealthiest performers in sports.
No. 9: Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney has amassed one of the largest fortunes of any professional footballer. About $160 million is his estimated net worth. In addition to being one of the most successful footballers of all time, this makes him one of the wealthiest players in the world.
Earnings from his career, endorsement deals, and investments account for the bulk of Rooney’s fortune. His compensation is rumored to be as high as $13 million per year. In addition, he makes money from endorsement deals with companies like Nike and Samsung.
Wayne Rooney’s lavish possessions include a fleet of expensive cars, a private plane, and various mansions in his home country of England. He has put money into a wide variety of industries, from children’s apparel to energy drinks.
Wayne Rooney is now one of the wealthiest footballers in the world thanks in large part to all of the aforementioned variables. This leads naturally into the next portion, which is all about Ronaldo. Like Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo is a footballer who has amassed a fortune over his stellar career.
Ronaldo, No. 10
Without a doubt, Cristiano Ronaldo has more money than any other football player. With a staggering fortune of over $450 million, he is now among the world’s wealthiest athletes. It’s no surprise he’s at the top of the endorsement game after such a stellar career as a professional football player.
Ronaldo’s career arc has been nothing short of remarkable. After beginning his career as a promising youngster at Sporting CP, he went on to become one of Manchester United’s all-time greats.
He has now become one of Real Madrid’s all-time greats and a star for current club Juventus. Not only is he the wealthiest footballer in the world, but his endorsement deals have made him even richer than the rest of them combined.
His wealth and success attest to his hard work and dedication throughout his career, and he should serve as an example to other aspiring footballers everywhere.
Mbappe, Kylian, No. 11
Next, we have Kylian Mbappe, who, like Cristiano Ronaldo before him, is largely believed to be one of the wealthiest footballers in the world. Recent honors for the 22-year-old Frenchman include the French Player of the Year and the Golden Boy Award.
As a professional footballer, he also achieved great success, with stints at prestigious teams like PSG, Monaco, and Real Madrid.
Mbappe’s income has increased significantly off the field as a result of his role as a global ambassador for several brands and charities. He is currently making an estimated $27 million per year through endorsements.
This explains why Kylian Mbappe has become one of the highest-paid athletes in the world, specifically in the sport of football. His achievements have unquestionably elevated him to a level all his own.
Despite the fact that he has yet to reach his full potential, Kylian Mbappe has all the tools necessary to maintain his position as one of the highest-paid athletes in the world.
Let’s shift our attention to the Welsh sensation Gareth Bale and examine what makes him tick.
Gareth Bale (12)
According to Forbes, Gareth Bale has a net worth of $125 million, making him the wealthiest footballer in the world. The winger for Real Madrid is now one of the world’s wealthiest athletes and a symbol of excess for football fans everywhere thanks to this enormous sum.
Some of Bale’s most important financial data are included in the table below.
| Records | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Total Net Worth | $125 Million | 2018 |
| Salary at Real Madrid | $35 Million/year | 2016-17 |
| Endorsements and Sponsorships | $20 Million/year | 2018 |
| Transfer Fee from Tottenham to Real Madrid (record) | £86 Million ($112 Million) | 2013-14 |
| Highest Paid British Footballer (record) | $350,000/week (Real Madrid contract) |
Since his transfer to Real Madrid in 2013, when he became the most expensive British footballer ever, these figures show that Bale has been a financial powerhouse. He has amassed a huge fortune from his professional playing career, endorsements, and sponsorships, and is now the wealthiest footballer in the world.
13. Alexandre Pato
It has been estimated that Alexandre Pato, a Brazilian professional footballer and the current president of So Paulo, is worth $35 million. He is one of the wealthiest footballers in the world thanks to his high wage.
At the age of sixteen, Pato signed with Internacional to begin his professional football career. On multiple occasions, he has also suited up for his country.
With his many endorsements and assets, Pato is one of the wealthiest players in the world. His on-field prowess has made him a hot commodity for teams all over the world.
Pato amassed his fortune through successful business endeavors and a prosperous professional career. His wage alone brings in an estimated $4 million annually, making him one of Europe’s highest-paid athletes.
His investments add to the millions he made as a footballer, allowing him to live the kind of lavish lifestyle that most people can only imagine. As a result of his successful playing career and several business ventures, Alexandre Pato is currently among the world’s wealthiest footballers. Moving on to Mesut Ozil…
Mesut Ozil (No. 14)
The German midfielder Mesut Ozil is usually regarded as the sport’s highest-paid player. The German international midfielder is one of the wealthiest players in history, with a net worth of over $75 million. His endorsement and sponsorship revenues alone bring in an additional tens of millions of dollars annually to his projected $20 million income.
Frequently listed among the world’s top 100 highest-paid sportsmen, he is also one of Europe’s top 10 wealthiest footballers.
He has become even more well-known in football because he is one of the rare players who have his own brand.
Mesut Ozil’s career earnings put him squarely in the upper echelon of football’s wealthiest players.
He is now one of the wealthiest players in history thanks to his ability to capitalize on his many strengths both on and off the field. This is a direct result of Ozil’s commitment and effort, as he has had a significant effect on and off the field.
In Closing
The following 14 footballers make up the world’s wealthiest footballers. These people have all made enormous leaps in their careers and accomplished a great deal, both on and off the field. But who is the game’s highest-paid star?
The correct answer is Faiq Bolkiah, who some may find surprising. His $20 billion net worth belies the fact that he is relatively obscure compared to his contemporaries. This makes him the richest footballer in the world and a very wealthy man overall.
His incredible riches are a result of his consistent effort over many years and should serve as an example to other aspiring football players. We applaud Faiq Bolkiah’s tremendous success.
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