You might have heard that footballers make lots of money, right? Football is loved across the globe. However, sometimes it’s not how the footballers play but the money they make through sponsorships, contracts, and other businesses they signed. The top 5 Richest Footballers In The World have made fortunes beyond just playing on the field.
Do you want to know the richest footballers in the world? Read the article to explore these footballers’ net worth, careers, and factors that made them wealthy. Let’s check out the list of Top 5 Richest Footballers In The World.
Faiq Bolkiah ($20 billion)
Faiq, a young Bruneian professional footballer, is currently the world’s richest footballer. He plays for Chonburi F.C. in Thailand and the Brunei national team.
Bolkiah’s achievements include captaining the Brunei national team and playing for clubs such as Southampton, Chelsea, and Leicester City.
Faiq belongs to the Royal family of Brueni, which contributed a lot to his net worth. Despite having less time in football, his sponsorships and deals also lend him a net worth of about $20 billion becomes the number one on the list of Top 5 Richest Footballers In The World.
Lionel Messi ($600 million)
The second richest footballer is Messi, who is from Argentina and represents Paris Saint Germain. Messi’s achievement is that he holds the most Ballon d’Or awards. He also led Argentina to win two consecutive World Cups in 2021 and 2022. He has unmatched records to his name, including winning the most Ballon d’Or.
Apart from football, he is also involved in sponsorships with renowned brands like Pepsi, Adidas, and Turkish Airlines, which pay him huge amounts of money, making him one of the richest footballers and makes him one of the Top 5 Richest Footballers In The World.
Cristiano Ronaldo ($500 million)
One of the best players in football history who doesn’t need an introduction, Cristiano Ronaldo, is also one of the Top 5 Richest Footballers In The World. Cristiano from Portugal represented the Portugal National Team as a captain and Saudi club Al-Nasr.
The highest goal scorer in international football has a net worth of $500 million. Ronaldo has won numerous awards for his talent, including 5 Ballon d’Or awards and several UEFA Champions League titles.
Ronaldo’s wealth mostly comes from sponsorships like Nike, Emirates, KFC, etc. Due to his outstanding performances, his football contract bonuses also add millions to his wealth.
David Beckham ($450 million)
The former footballer, David, who represented Manchester United, has an estimated net worth of $450 million.
David has won different titles for his remarkable performances including 6 Premier League titles, 2 F.A. Cups, and 1 UEFA Champions League during his career with Manchester United.
His wealth was mainly boosted by sponsorships and endorsements with brands like Adidas, Jaguar, Diaego, etc. Collaboration with H&M, and AIA Group.
Dave Wehlan ($210 million)
Whelan started playing soccer for Blackburn Rovers and Crewe Alexandra. He helped Blackburn Rovers win the Football League Third Division North title in 1959–60. After retiring from soccer in 1966, he became a successful businessman.
He created the Wigan Athletic Football Club and ran it for twenty years. Later, he gave ownership to his grandson. He was awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Wigan and an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration from the University of Bolton for his achievements in Dave.
His wealth mainly comes from his businesses and real estate. Whelan is now worth around $210 million.
Neymar Jr ($200 million)
Neymar Jr., also known as Neymar, plays as a forward for Al Hilal and the Brazil national team. He’s considered one of Brazil’s greatest footballers ever.
Neymar has won three Copa del Rey titles, two La Liga titles, and a UEFA Champions League title with Barcelona. He’s also played a crucial role in Brazil’s victories in the Copa América 2019 and the 2016 Olympics.
He takes $78 million per year for playing in PSG. Also, his sponsorships with Puma and Adidas contributed a lot to his overall wealth.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic ($190 million)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the famous Swedish striker, had a great career with AC Milan and Sweden’s national team. He’s known for his amazing skills and goals. He played for top clubs like Barcelona, Juventus, Inter Milan, and Manchester United.
Ibrahimovic won 11 league titles and five UEFA Champions League titles. With over 560 goals, he’s Sweden’s top scorer ever. Ibrahimovic is also the seventh richest footballer in the world.
Apart from football paychecks, his sponsorships with M.S. Xbox, Volvo, and Nivea boosted his income. Plus, he also invests in real estate and perfume ventures.
Conclusion
To conclude, the richest footballers in the world have different sources of income. Football does not pay as much as the sponsorships and deals with brands do. But some players also came from rich backgrounds, like Faiq Bolkia. Who do you think earns the most outside football?
