Football is one of the most popular sports across the world having viewership in billions. This makes the industry huge and generates value in billions. There is a huge fan base with high-value sponsorships and advertisements. The players receive contracts ranging in millions in big clubs making them some of the richest athletes in the world.
The richest football players have a great global influence and commercial success which leads them to have sky-high commercial endorsements. In this article, we will be highlighting the top 10 richest football players.
List of Top 10 Richest Football Players
Here is the list of top 10 richest football players:
| Name | Net Worth | Team |
| Faiq Bolkiah | $20 billion | Ratchaburi FC |
| Lionel Messi | $600 million | Inter Miami |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | $500 million | AI Nassar |
| David Beckham | $450 million | Manchester United |
| Dave Whelan | $210 million | Blackburn Rovers and Crewe Alexandra |
| Neymar Jr. | $200 million | Al-Hilal |
| Zlatan Ibrahimovic | $190 million | Serie A Club AC Milan |
| Kylian Mbappe | $180 million | Paris-Saint Germain |
| Wayne Rooney | $170 million | D.C. United |
| Ronaldo Luis Nazario | $160 million | Real Madrid |
Faiq Bolkiah ($20 billion)
Faiq Jefri Bolkiah is a member of the Brunei royal family and a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Ratchaburi in Thai League 1. He holds the title of the richest football player in the world with a staggering net worth of 20 billion dollars. Being the son of the Brunei prince, most of his wealth comes from the family inheritance. His wealth and status are linked to the royal lineage and not his achievements in football.
Lionel Messi ($600 million)
Lionel Messi, known as the greatest footballer of all time is the most richest footballer in terms of football achievement. He has had a record-breaking career in football achieving the World Cup and 7 Ballon d’Or Awards. He is currently playing in the MLS league in the Inter Miami club with a salary of over 20 million per year. His staggering net worth not only comes from football but also from lucrative deals with Adidas, Pepsi, and Huawei.
Cristiano Ronaldo ($500 million)
Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese football star and is a forward for AI Nassar in Saudi Arabia. He is also one of the richest football players in the world. With a net worth of 500 million dollars, Ronaldo’s football career consists of record-breaking transfer fees in Juventus and various sponsorships with Nike and CR7. Cristiano is also the highest-paid footballer with a yearly salary of over 200 million dollars in Al Nassar.
David Beckham ($450 million)
David Beckham is one of the most renowned footballers of his time playing with teams like Manchester United and Real Madrid. He has enormous global popularity and has many sponsorship deals making him one of the richest football players. Now retired, Beckham owns the MLS club Inter Miami. Apart from football, he has made huge investments in fashion, media, and sports franchises.
Dave Whelan ($210 million)
Dave Whelan is a retired English footballer who played in teams such as the Blackburn Rovers and Crewe Alexandra as a winger. Dave retired from football in 1966 after which he became a businessman and started investments in the retail and sports industry. He purchased the Wigan athletic football club in 1995 which led to great success for the team. The sports retail empire made him one of the richest football players of all time.
Neymar Jr. ($200 million)
Neymar Jr. is a Brazilian footballer always known for his flamboyant and flashy style of play. His transfer from Barcelona to PSG was made across the world recognition making him one of the richest football players. His endorsement deals with brands such as Nike, Gillette, and Red Bull helped him achieve his wealth. He currently plays with the Saudi club Al-Hilal with a yearly salary of 135 million dollars.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic ($190 million)
Zlatan, a famous Swedish striker has made a name for himself both on and off the pitch. With a net worth exceeding $190 million, Ibrahimovic’s career consists of playing for some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Barcelona, Manchester United, and AC Milan. He has endorsement deals with Nike and Volvo contributing to his wealth and making him one of the richest football players.
Kylian Mbappe ($180 million)
Mbappe comes 8th in our list of the top 10 richest football players in the World. He plays for the French club PSG and represents his international French team. He has many sponsorships with big brands like Nike, making him one of the richest young athletes.
Wayne Rooney ($170 million)
Wayne Rooney is a legendary English football player who played for teams like Manchester United and was at the top of his game at that time. He was one the greatest English footballers and had great achievements in club and international football. He retired from football in 2021 after which he coached many teams. Rooney’s wealth comes from his ventures and investments in businesses and endorsements, making him one of the richest football player.
Ronaldo Luis Nazario ($160 million)
On our list of the Top 10 richest football players, Ronaldo Nazario comes in the 10th number. He is a Brazilian football icon known for his style of play. He has amassed an unexpected wealth throughout his football career and had investments in businesses and different opportunities. He invested in real estate projects and sports marketing agencies, increasing his total wealth.
In today’s article, we discussed the top 10 richest football players in the world. Football is one of the greatest sports in the world, making it a billion-dollar industry which leads to players having a great amount of salaries and transfer prices.
