ARTICLE AD BOX
Last Updated:August 27, 2025, 00:24 IST
Faiq Bolkiah tops the list as the richest footballer, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr and others with a net worth of US$20 billion.
One would imagine that Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo, Argentina star Lionel Messi or Brazil’s Neymar Jr might be the richest footballer in the world, given their popularity on the big stage and performances. But that isn’t so!

Faiq Bolkiah is the richest footballer in the world, with a net worth of US$20 billion. He is a member of the royal family of Brunei (Picture credit: X)

Flamini, best known for his tireless performances under Arsène Wenger at Arsenal, now runs a biochemical company valued close to £20 billion, said to be 40 times the net worth of Cristiano Ronaldo, 40 (Picture credit: AP)

Cristiano Ronaldo’s net worth is estimated at around $1 billion, a testament to his illustrious football career, lucrative endorsements and diverse business ventures. His business ventures include the CR7 brand (fashion, footwear, fragrances) and the Pestana CR7 Hotels (hospitality), among others (Picture credit: AP)

David Beckham’s net worth isn’t listed individually, but in May 2019, he and his wife Victoria Beckham were estimated to have a combined fortune of around £355 million (Picture credit: AFP)

Lionel Messi, the Argentine football legend, has a net worth of $850 million and is hailed as one of the greatest footballers in the history of the sport (Picture credit: AP)

Neymar’s net worth is estimated at around $300 million, though the exact figure varies depending on the source and timing of calculation, as per Football.com, 90min, and Marca (Picture credit: AP)

Zlatan Ibrahimović’s net worth is estimated at roughly $100 million, though the exact figure is unconfirmed and differs across sources (Picture credit: AFP)

As of 2025, R9’s net worth is estimated at £130 million ($165 million), built through lucrative football contracts, major sponsorship deals, and smart business investments (Picture credit: AFP)

Kylian Mbappé, the French football star, has a net worth of $250 million and ranks among the highest-paid players in the world (Picture credit: AP)

Alexandre Pato’s net worth is estimated at around $30 million USD, though exact figures remain unverified and have not been confirmed by the player or credible financial sources (Picture credit: AFP)
News18 Sports brings you the latest updates, live commentary, and highlights from cricket, football, tennis, badmintion, wwe and more. Catch breaking news, live scores, and in-depth coverage. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!
Next PhotogalleryNews Photogallery sports Meet 10 Richest Footballers, #1 Isn't Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi Or Neymar Jr!