Footballer or soccer, isn’t just the globe’s favorite sport but also a mammoth industry with a staggering value in the billions. The massive fan base worldwide, coupled with lucrative sponsorship deals and substantial player contracts, has propelled top footballers to become some of the richest individuals in the planet. In the year 2023, the race to secure the coveted title of the richest footballers in the world is fiercely competitive, as players amass immense wealth from their salaries, bonuses, endorsem*nts and astute investment endeavors. This article will delve into the lives and financial triumphs of the top 10 richest footballers in the world.
List of Top 10 Richest Footballers in the World
Here is the list of top 10 richest footballers in the world. Faiq Bolkiah with $20 billion tops the list, followed by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Here is the list of top-10 richest footballers in the world:
| Top 10 Richest Footballers in the World | |||
| S. No. | Name | Net Worth | Team |
| 1. | Faiq Bolkiah | $20 billion | Chonburi F.C., Thailand |
| 2. | Lionel Messi | $600 million | Paris Saint-Germain |
| 3. | Cristiano Ronaldo | $500 million | AI Nassar |
| 4. | David Beckham | $450 million | Manchester United |
| 5. | Dave Whelan | $210 million | Blackburn Rovers and Crewe Alexandra |
| 6. | Neymar Jr. | $200 million | Paris-Saint Germain |
| 7. | Zlatan Ibrahimovic | $190 million | Serie A Club AC Milan |
| 8. | Kylian Mbappe | $180 million | Ligue 1 Club Pairs-Saint Germain |
| 9. | Wayne Rooney | $170 million | D.C. United |
| 10. | Ronaldo Luis Nazario | $160 million | Real Madrid |
1. Richest Footballer in the World: Faiq Bolkiah
Net Worth: $20 Billion
Team: Chonburi F.C., Thailand
Faiq Bolkiah holds the title of the world’s wealthiest football player, boasting a staggering net worth of $20 billion, primarily stemming from his family’s substantial inheritance. He is a scion of Brunei’s royal lineage, being the son of the Brunei Prince. Presently, Faiq Bolkiah serves as a midfielder for the Portuguese team Maritimo. However, despite their immense wealth, his weekly earnings from football amount to a modest $1,000 and he primarily participates in Leicester City’s development squad.
Second Richest Footballer of the World – Lionel Messi
Net Worth: $600 million
Team: Paris-Saint Germain
Records: Most Balloon D’Or Award, Most Liga Goals and more
Awards: World Soccer Player of the Year, FIFA Balloon D’Or and many more
Movie: Lionel Messi: The Greatest
Lionel Messi, an Argentina football legend, plays as a forward for Paris-Saint Germain and captains the Argentina National Team. His net worth of $600 million ranks him as the second richest footballer in the world. Messi’s incredible career boasts 7 Ballon d’Or Awards, a record and six European Golden Shoes.
World’s Third Richest Footballer: Cristiano Ronaldo
Net Worth: $500 million
Team: AI Nassar
Records: Highest goal-scorer in football and many more
Awards: European Golden Shoe, FIFA Ballon D’Or and many more
Books: Cristiano Ronaldo: The Rise of a Winner
Movie: Cristiano Ronaldo: The World at its Feet
Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese football star, captains Portugal and is a forward for AI Nassar in Saudi Arabia. With five Ballon D’Or wins, he holds the European record. Ronaldo is the top all-time international goal scorer, a football legend, often compared to Lionel Messi.
Fourth Wealthiest Footballer in the World – David Beckham
Net worth: $450 million
Team: Manchester United
Records: Only player to win League titles in 4 countries and more
Awards: Premier League Player of the Month, BBC Sports Personality of the Year and more
Books: Beckham: My World
David Beckham, a renowned professional footballer, excelled as an attacking midfielder and achieved recognition as one of the top players in this era. He enjoyed immense global popularity throughout his career. Beckham’s journey took him through prominent clubs such as Manchester United, Real Madrid, the LA Galaxy, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, where he accumulated an impressive total of 19 major trophies, including six Premier League titles, one La Liga title and one MLS Cup. In 2013, he bid farewell to professional football. Presently, he stands as the fourth richest footballer in the world.
World’s Fifth Richest Footballer – Dave Whelan
Net Worth: $210 million
Team: Blackburn Rovers and Crewe Alexandra
Awards: Freedom of the Borough
Dave Whelan, born on November 24, 1936, in Bradford, England, was a footballer who played as a winger. He played for teams like Balckburn Rovers and Crewe Alexandra. In 1959-60, he achieved success by winning the Football League Third Division North title with Blackburn Rovers. Dave retired from professional football in 1966. After his playing career, he became a prosperous businessman and started Wigan Athletic football club. As of now, his net worth is $210 million.
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