Richest Footballers in the World – The List Will Surprise You

Financial data related to football players have always attracted the attention of the general public. Lists of the highest paid or most expensive players are without exception an interesting topic among football fans. So how is the richest soccer player in the world?

Believe it or not, it is not one of the world’s football stars. No, it’s not Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, on the contrary, it’s about a guy you’ve probably never heard of before. Below is a table with the top 20 richest soccer players in the world right now.

Top 20 Richest Footballers in the World

Name	Age	Net worth
Sergio Aguero	34	$80 million
Sergio Ramos	37	$80 million
Samuel Eto	42	$95 million
Eden Hazard	32	$100 million
Mesut Ozil	34	$120 million
Andres Iniesta	38	$120 million
Paul Pogba	30	$125 million
Gareth Bale	33	$145 million
Alexandre Pato	33	$145 million
Kylian Mbappe	24	$150 million
Ronaldo	46	$160 million
Wayne Rooney	37	$170 million
Zlatan Ibrahimovic	41	$190 million
Neymar JR	31	$200 million
Dave Whelan	86	$210 million
David Beckham	47	$450 million
Cristiano Ronaldo	38	$500 million
Lionel Messi	35	$650 million
Mathieu Flamini	39	$14 billion
Faiq Bolhiah	24	$20 billion

20. Sergio Aguero – net worth $80 million

Sergio Aguero was forced to end his football career over a year ago after he suddenly collapsed on the pitch while playing for Barcelona, and doctors later determined he had a heart problem. The Argentine, who due to the premature end of his career was not part of the national team that reached the world title in Qatar a few months ago, will be remembered as one of the best goal scorers of his generation.

Aguero spent the best days of his playing career in the shirt of Manchester City, where he is the best scorer in the history of the club. He is known for his expensive and rare cars collection.

19.Sergio Ramos – net worth $80 million

This 36 years old Spanish legend currently plays for PSG and earn annual salary of $25 million. However, his best games he played with Real Madrid where among many other trophies he won UEFA Champions League 5 times. Ramos also want to spent money on cars, but also on apartments and houses. His current house in Spain “Mansion La Moraleja” is worth over $12 million.

18.Samuel Eto – net worth $95 million

One of the greatest African strikers of all time – Samuel Eto is now president of football federation of Cameroon. He is extremely proud that he owns villa in Italy, “Villa Altachiara” which he bought for $20 million. Eto played for many teams during his career, but the most successful years he had in Barcelona and Inter. Eto finished his career in 2019 in Qatar.

17. Eden Hazard – net worth $100 million

With a net worth $100 million Eden Hazard, a former Chelsea and currently Real Madrid’s player, is the 17^th richest soccer player in the world in. Eden Hazard is a Belgian soccer player who currently plays as a winger for Real Madrid. Hazard, a former Chelsea player, was previously the club’s highest-paid player, earning $15.4 million a year.

His weekly salary at Real Madrid is currently above $550,000, but all that would be fine if he just at least was in the first squad. His form dropped unimaginably since he joined Real Madrid and he almost all season benched.

16. Mesut Ozil – net worth $120 million

His lucrative contract with English football club Arsenal helped him secure a place on this year’s list of the world’s richest footballers. In a over $350,000 deal, the skilful midfielder signed a contract with Arsenal which is due to expire in 2021. However, he was eventually sacked due to a disagreement with Arsenal’s board and manager Mikel Arteta.

Since canceling his contract with Arsenal in 2020, Mesut Ozil has been playing as a midfielder for Fenerbahce in the Turkish Super League, with Arsenal paying part of his salary. Ozil has amassed a fortune of $120 million, making him one of the richest footballers in the world, after enjoying lucrative earnings in his early years at Real Madrid and Arsenal.

Mesut Ozil’s salary is supplemented by a sponsorship deal, which has allowed him to enter the top ten richest footballers. Adidas, Beats Electronics and Mercedes-Benz are among his sponsors. Mesut has only appeared in a handful of matches for Fenerbahce since joining the club in 2020 due to a torn ankle ligament. Then he joined Istanbul Basaksehir, but the problems with injuries continued so he announced his retirement from professional football.

15. Andres Iniesta – net worth $120 million

Barcelona icon and midfield maestro Andres Iniesta was one of the best midfielders in the world during his time with Barcelona and the national team.

Iniesta is currently a member of the Japanese team Vissel Kobe. Iniesta was an important member of the Spanish team that won the World Cup in South Africa in 2010. Iniesta earned a weekly salary of $240,000 a week, or about $11.5 million a year, during most of his tenure at Barcelona.

When Iniesta left Barcelona to join Vissel Kobe, he started earning a weekly salary of almost $600,000, increasing his net worth to become one of the richest footballers in the world. Iniesta also has lucrative endorsement deals with UFKS.com, Nissan and Nike, said to earn him $5 million each year. Iniesta also has a $400,000 stake in the Spanish football club Albacete.

14. Paul Pogba – net worth $125 million

Pogba, Juventus’ midfielder and the French national team member, is one of the most famous footballers in the world. When he returned from Juventus to Manchester United for 105 million euros, he was the most expensive player in the world. His weekly wages at Manchester United are almost $290,000, which has added to his net worth, and he also has a $31 million annual sponsorship deal with Adidas.

Pogba owns a number of luxury vehicles, including a Lamborghini Aventador, Mercedes GLS 4Ks4, Audi RS6 Power R, Bentley Flying Spur, Rolls-Royce Wraith, Maserati Quattroporte, Ferrari 812 Superfast and others.

13. Gareth Bale – net worth $145 million

Gareth Bale was a professional footballer who played for Real Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur and Los Angeles where he retired. He is recognized as one of the fastest footballers in the world. Gareth Bale moved to Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013 for a world record fee of £85.3 million. Bale’s contract with Real Madrid, which paid him over $15 million a year, has made him one of the richest footballers in the world.

 Bale’s endorsement deals with Adidas, EA Sports, Lucozade, BT Sport, Nissan Motor, Konami and Foot Locker are worth more than $10m each year. Now he is retired and enjoys in another sport, his favorite – golf.

12.Alexandre Pato – net worth $145 million

Many are surpassed to see this Brazilian player so high on this list. But Pato had a great and very rich football career playing for team like AC Milan, Chelsea, Villareal, Sao Paolo and his last club was Orlando in USA. But besides football, Pato invested his money in CoverGirl Cosmetics endorsements, fashion line, restaurants, vodka, and more businesses which earns him a fortune.

11.Kylian Mbappe – net worth $150 million

The contract of Paris Saint-Germain footballer Kylian Mbappe, which was extended with great fanfare in May 2022, is an “unprecedented” contract and is worth 630 million euros gross over three years. In more detail, the French star’s salary is set at 72 million euros gross for each year of the contract, or six million euros gross per month (2.7 million net after taxes).

Added to this is a bonus of 180 million euros gross, which is guaranteed and will be paid in three installments. And that’s not all, because to this incredible contract are added the revenues of the contracts that Mbappe has with various sponsors, which according to Forbes magazine, those sponsorship contracts are worth 18.44 million euros. With all those incomes, Mbappe will certainly move up the list very quickly.

10.Ronaldo Luís Nazário – net worth of $160 million

The Brazilian Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, one of the most famous players ever today is in real estate business, and he also owns mansions in Brazil and USA and a very expensive penthouse in Sao Paolo. Ronaldo bought 51% of the shares of the Real Valladolid club for 30 million euros in 2018. In his playing career, he scored six goals against this club. Today Valladolid is still member of Spanish LaLiga.

9.Wayne Rooney – net worth $170 million

Former English striker Rooney who played for Everton, Manchester United, DC United and shortly in Derby County made real fortune during his playing career. Now he is trying to make a career as football manager and also invests a lot in real estate. He is living in a $20 million mansion built on a 40 acre of land. He also owns few Lamboghinies among other luxury cars.

8.Zlatan Ibrahimovic – net worth $190 million

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Milan. He is considered one of the greatest players of all time and is one of the most decorated footballers in history. The 41-year-old has a net worth of $190 million. Ibrahimovic also played for Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Manchester United, among other clubs in Europe.

 Nike, Microsoft Xbox, Nivea, Samsung and Volvo are among his many endorsements deals worth more than $10 million each year. In 116 games for his national team, the forward captained Sweden and scored 62 goals. After four years of retirement, Zlatan returned to Sweden’s national team in a 1-0 win over Georgia in Euro 2021 qualifiers and will be part of the national squad for EURO 2024. Ibrahimovic owns three luxury homes in Sweden worth over $14 million, mansion on lake Como in Italy and Chesire in Engand as well as a number of high-end cars such as a Ferrari Enzo, Lamborghini Gallardo, Audi S8, Maserati Gran Turismo and Volvo C30 T5.

7.Neymar JR – net worth $200 million

Neymar is a Brazilian footballer who now plays as a winger for the French champion Paris-Saint-German. He is considered one of the best players in the world. Although many believe that with his football skills, he should have made more of his career, he can be very proud of his career and trophies won. He also is known as fan of new fashion trends and he also owns his fashion line. He has a lot of sponsors as he is very young and popular. He owns a lot of luxury cars Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita, Lamborghini Veneno, Auri R8. and many more.

6.Dave Whelan – net worth $210 million

Former English full-back player Whelan for many years was owner of Wigan Athletic. During his playing career he played for Crewe Alexandria and Blackburn Rovers. He is owner of JJB Sports, company which made sports goods and have several shops in England. As player he didn’t have some spectacular career, but as a businessman he is doing great.

5. David Beckham – net worth $450 million

This English icon had very successful playing career in Manchester United, Real Madrid and PSG where he retired. However, most of his wealth he earned after finishing his football career, using his name as brand and making collaboration with companies like Adidas, H&M, Samsung, Loreal, Tudor Watches, etc. He biggest project is football club Miami which he is building from zero and some famous players has already joined this club. 

4.Cristiano Ronaldo – net worth $500 million

Ronaldo is one of the most decorated footballers in the world, having played for a number of prominent European clubs, including Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus in Italy’s Serie A. Ronaldo’s greatest success came while wearing the Real Madrid jersey from 2009 to 2018, when he scored an incredible 450 goals for the Royal Club and set numerous records.

Ronaldo signed a contract with the Saudi football giant Al Nasr recently and will stay there until the summer of 2025, and he will earn a real fortune in Riyadh. Ronaldo’s basic salary at Al Nasr will be around 70 million euros, but together with bonuses and sponsorship deals, the Portuguese will earn 200 million euros a year or 500 million for the entire contract.

It is, without any doubt, the biggest contract signed by a football player in history. Ronaldo will thus collect 16,666,666 euros per month or 3,846,153 euros per week. It’s sure that his net worth will grow even more considered that he has numerous sponsors like Nike, Herbalife, etc.

Ronaldo is a fan of super luxury cars, and his Bugatti Centodieci, with which he appeared in Madrid recently, costs eight million euros, and only 10 copies were produced.

3.Lionel Messi – net worth $650 million

For many the best player in the world ever, Lionel Messi. Last year in Qatar he won the last trophy that was missing in his collection, World Cup with his national team Argentina. Messi has his own clothing brand, Messi shops, sponsor deals with Adidas, Socios and many more brands. It’s known that Messi loves to buy mansions and houses, so he owns several: mansions in Miami and Dubai, houses in Barcelona, London and Rosario.

2.Mathieu Flamini – net worth $14 billion

Former French footballer Mathieu Flamini ended his professional career in 2019 as a member of the Spanish Getafe. He then devoted himself to the business he had started years before and the former midfielder is now a billionaire. Mathieu Flamini can boast of a very good football career. This 38-year-old started his career in Marseille, spent most of his career in Arsenal, played in Milan for five years, and also played for Crystal Palace and Getafe. Flamini and his friend Granata founded the company GF Biochemicals, which is primarily focused on climate change research and finding alternative sources of fuel.

He developed a type of fuel that can be used instead of oil. It brought the company a huge amount of money. According to the prestigious magazine “Forbes”, his lucrative business brought him a fortune of more than 10 billion or more than 11 billion dollars!

1.Faiq Bolkiah – net worth $20 billion

The richest football player in the world is Faiq Bolkiah from Brunei. In question is a member of the royal family, whose wealth is estimated at 20 billion dollars. He currently plays in the Thai league for the Chonburi team. This information represents a complete paradox. It is difficult to expect this player to do something big in his professional football career.

He was born on May 9, 1998. In his youth career, he first played for Newbury, then for Southampton, Chelsea and Leicester. In his senior career, he wore the jersey of the second team of the Portuguese Maritimo, and in 2021 he moved to the Thai Chonburi, of which he is still a member. He made six appearances for the senior Brunei national team and scored one goal.