There are 8 billion people in the world and only 128,694 professional footballers. For the world’s most beloved game, the math says it all. Even if footballers don’t promote their sport, just playing means they’ll have a huge fan base.
A large following means footballers have influence, and that, in today’s terms, means money will follow wherever they go. A footballer’s brand value is what makes clubs chase after them. Sponsorships, endorsements, and social media audience all become ways of attracting money — be it for the players at the very top or those in your local community.
Messi, Ronaldo, Beckham, Pele — these are not just footballers. They are pop culture icons, forever enshrined in history. That’s the kind of influence that attracts big money! It stands to reason that these footballers have raked in millions, making their club salaries seem meager in comparison.
If you ever wonder whether hard work and persistence pay off, just look at your favorite footballer. Sure, chance may play a role, but you have to know that luck only favors those who dare to try. If you’re into football, these players and their crazy riches are a sure shot motivation for you.
Want to know who’s leading the pack as the wealthiest footballer in the world? We’ve calculated and listed them for you below.
Criteria for Ranking the Richest Footballers
Before we dive into the list, here’s how we’ve calculated the wealth of the world’s top richest footballers.
- Footballer salaries are at the very base. They include signing bonuses, performance rewards, weekly wages, and everything else a club offers to make these footballers feel regal.
- Then you have your endorsements, brand partnerships and sponsorship deals. Companies like to work with footballers because they know the kind of influence they command; a mere minutes’ presence can skyrocket a brand’s stock, and they are ready to give millions for it. Having the tag of owning the biggest sponsorship deals in football is undoubtedly an ego booster.
- All their football earnings are not spent uselessly. Spart players invest and let their money multiply itself. Over time, some of them have built enormous businesses, from hotels and restaurants to fashion brands and football merchandising. Earnings from these sources are included in our calculations.
- You won’t believe how much the world’s richest footballer earns from a single Instagram post — a whopping $3.23 million. That is bonkers! For this reason, we’ve included income from social media too.
- Real estate and luxury investments owned by footballers such as mansions, sports cars, private jets, and yachts, are also factored into their total wealth and assets.
Based on these factors, here are the top 10 wealthiest footballers today.
Top 10 Richest Footballers in the World
Let’s pluck the odd one out first — Faiq Bolkiah of Ratchaburi FC has a total net worth of over $20 billion, earning him the tag of the world’s wealthiest footballer. But all of his fortunes are inherited.
If you look at his club salary, that is only $2,900 per month. Peanuts! Literally peanuts!
So how does a man go from $2,900 to $20 billion? Well, he has to thank the King of Brunei for that.
Faiq is the nephew of the Sultan of Brunei. As a royal, he inherited a $20 billion asset pool, including real estate, energy businesses, and investments in financial institutions throughout Asia. He isn’t part of our top 10 but warrants a mention because the actual self-made top 10 combined do not even come close to his fortunes.
Here are the top 10 wealthiest footballers, those who actually count!
10. Alexandre Pato – $145 Million
You can’t say Alexandre Pato is at the peak of world football, but his net worth tells a different story. His lucrative contracts with AC Milan, Chelsea, and China’s Tianjin Quanjian contribute massively to his fortune. Pato’s investments in real estate and sports businesses have also helped him build long-term wealth. He is the epitome of using football as the means to an end.
9. Gareth Bale – $145 Million
A lot was expected when Gareth Bale moved to Real Madrid. His transfer in 2013 was over €100 million making it the most expensive transfer in history at that time. With Gareth and Ronaldo attacking, Real Madrid was touted as the most killer squad.
Speaking objectively, Gareth remained underwhelmed throughout his time at Real Madrid, and did not perform as everyone expected him to. But it shot his fortunes through the roof. Much of Gareth’s wealth rode on the back of his lucrative football earnings and sponsorships during his time in Spain.
Post-retirement, Gareth remains a passionate golfer, and continues to mint money through his brand partnerships with TaylorMade, Adidas, Nissan, and others. He’s also ventured in the food industry and owns multiple successful restaurants and bars.
8. Ronaldo Luís Nazário – $160 Million
Where Gen Zs have CR7, millennials grew up adorning R9. For football historians, Ronaldo is the real OG, but for the business world, he is a top-class entrepreneur. His negotiations with Nike helped him close some of the highest sponsorship deals in football at the time — contracts that still pay him fortunes.
Ronaldo’s other successful ventures include owning the Real Valladolid and Cruzeiro football teams, sponsorships, and brand ambassadorships with the UN to support humanitarian causes.
7. Wayne Rooney – $170 Million
Wayne Rooney’s career earnings from Manchester United, DC United, and Everton made him one of England’s wealthiest footballers. His lucrative contracts, including a $100 million+ deal with the Red Devils, contributed significantly to his wealth.
After retiring, he transitioned into management and punditry, ensuring a steady income. His autobiography deals, and the Netflix documentary ROONEY, continue to bring in millions.
6. Kylian Mbappé – $180 Million
Kylian Mbappé is only 26 years old. But his list of achievements has already put him on course to becoming Football’s GOAT. His start was just €3,000 but today his five-year contract with Real Madrid is reportedly worth $180 million.
Other sources of revenue for Mbappé are his long-term deals with Nike and EA Sports (as the FIFA video game cover star). Selling his image rights pays him huge dividends.
5. Zlatan Ibrahimović – $190 Million
Zlatan may have retired, but his wealth will never be. The Swedish legend has built his fortune through contracts with top clubs, such as PSG, Manchester United, and AC Milan.
Zlatan is also a savvy businessman. He owns shares in the Swedish club Hammarby IF and invests in sports nutrition brands. His book, I Am Zlatan Ibrahimović, was first published in 2011 and has become an international bestseller. Talk about a man with many talents and that’s Zlatan for sure.
4. Neymar Jr. – $250 Million
Brazilian superstar Neymar signed a $200 million, two-year contract with Al Hilal, making him the second-biggest name to move to Saudi Arabia. However, injury woes prevented that from truly materializing.
But if there is one thing Neymar knows, it’s how to make lemonade. He is the smartest investor and has churned out sponsorship deals, like the one he has with Puma, which pays him $25 million annually.
Now back at his boy club, Santos, Neymar still enjoys his flashy lifestyle, including luxury cars and a private jet, which he funds through club salaries, sponsorships, and dabblings in NFTs and eSports.
3. David Beckham – $450 Million
No one bends it like Beckham or does style like Beckham. Although he’s been retired for a while now, he still features in the top three. Beckham’s fortune remains astronomical. His ownership of Inter Miami skyrocketed with Messi’s arrival, making the club one of the most valuable MLS clubs and him one of the famous football entrepreneurs.
Beckham’s $160 million lifetime Adidas deal in 2003 and fashion collaborations keep him relevant 22 years later. His smart investments in football clubs and businesses cement his place among the wealthiest athletes in history.
2. Lionel Messi – $450 Million+
Had Messi accepted the move to Saudi Arabia, he would have sat comfortably over Ronaldo, but he chose Inter Miami instead. His move in 2023 didn’t just change MLS; it redefined football economics in the US.
His deal was perhaps the first ever based on revenue-sharing agreements with MLS’s sponsors, Apple and Adidas. You can say the guy earns less than he used to from his PSG days, but he is a master negotiator, churning out sponsorship deals better than Ronaldo. His lifetime Adidas contract and collaborations with brands like Pepsi and Budweiser continue fueling his fortunes.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo – $500 Million+
Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably the biggest name in football history, and it stands to reason that he is its highest earner. His move to Al Nassr saw him become the highest-paid athlete in the world, earning a reported $200 million per year, including salary and endorsements.
Beyond football, Ronaldo has built an empire, including his CR7 brand, luxury hotels, a fragrance line, and fitness centers. His massive social media following makes other brands go gaga over him. He reportedly charges over $3 million for a single IG post and chalks out some of the highest paid endorsement deals.
How Footballers Manage Their Wealth
There’s more to football players earnings than just salaries, sponsorships, and endorsements. The key lies in wealth management. A player knows the prime of his earning potential is just under 40 years. After that, they usually need to reinvent themselves to maintain their luxuries and lifestyles.
As you’ve now seen, Football player contracts contribute as just one of their incomes. The rest are taken care of by the players’ agents. They act as their friend, confidante, lawyer, business manager, financial planner, and any other role you could think of.
Let’s see how these agents manoeuvre the wealth and careers of our wealthiest footballers.
Financial Advisors and Investment Strategies
Footballers know the most about being the best on the pitch. Off the field though, they often rely on the financial advice of their agents and planners. In modern football, these assistants can play a significant role in managing football player endorsements, making sure the stars receive the best end of the deal, always!
Wealth management strategies employed for footballers focus on diversification. Investments in real estate, luxury assets, stocks, start-ups are carefully chosen to reflect their long-term earning potential.
Philanthropy and Charitable Contributions
Football endorsements also come as philanthropic initiatives. A classic example of this is Ronaldo’s UN ambassadorship, which focused on poverty alleviation. Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, and Mbappé continuously remain in the spotlight for their charitable contributions and broader philanthropy focusing on causes close to their hearts.
Messi’s foundation focuses on poverty alleviation and healthcare while Ronaldo chooses children’s education and disaster relief rehabilitation as core issues.
On a close look, you’ll realize that every footballer is rich not because of the wealth they have but because of their giving heart. Humbleness and humility go a long way in building these stars’ images beyond football.
