Top 10 Richest Footballers in the World (2025)

The fact that some of the best football players in the world are also some of the most wealthy individuals on earth should not be shocking. These are the most paid footballers because of their on-field success, earning millions of dollars in salary and brand sponsorships. The football game itself is obviously incredibly lucrative, with millions of dollars resting on brand sponsorships and media rights at both the national and international levels. Several of its players are frequently regarded as demigods in various countries due to its massive global fan base, which eclipses that of all other active sports.

So, the question that stands now is who are richest footballers and how much are they banking in. In the following list, we will be talking about the top 10 richest footballers in the world and what is their net worth.

Top 10 Richest Footballers in the World

1. Faiq Bolkiah

With a net worth estimated at $20 billion in 2025, Faiq Bolkiah is the wealthiest football player in the world. He served as the captain of the Brunei national team and is a member of the royal family of Brunei. He is a midfielder at Chonburi FC in Thailand right now. He is currently playing the finest football of his professional career there on his own continent, contributing several goals in more than a dozen games.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo

In our ranking of the top 10 richest footballers in the world, CR7 comes in at number two with a net worth of $690 million. Along with being a football player, CR7 is well known as a successful businessman. He operates hotels and promotes Nike. He also makes money from endorsing other goods under the CR7 brand, such as perfume, underwear, eyewear, hotels, and gyms, as well as through his own sponsorships and deals with other businesses.

3. Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is third with a $620 million net worth. He was crucial to Argentina’s victory at the FIFA World Cup in 2022. In 2021, he left Barcelona and moved in Paris St. German, where his pay is 22 million dollars less than it was in Barcelona. His income has grown in spite of this. Using advertisements and other strategies, he has raised his income. Messi promotes a number of well-known brands, such as Lay’s, Pepsi, and Adidas.

4. David Beckham

David Beckham, another of the richest footballers in the world, has amassed enormous wealth by creating an unrivalled image. Over his career, Beckham has endorsed numerous well-known companies, including as H&M, Adidas, L’Oreal, Tudor Watches, Samsung, and Breitling. His net worth is currently $450 million. In the course of his nearly two-decade career, he set numerous records and rose to prominence as a football ambassador around the world. Beckham has routinely been one of football’s greatest earners, and in 2013 he was also named the highest-paid player in the world.

5. Dave Whelan

David Whelan, one of the greatest players in football history, is still ranked among the wealthiest athletes in the world at the age of 85 because to his incredible career and lucrative business enterprises. Whelan owned the Wigan Athletic football team in addition to having played for Blackburn Rovers and Crewe Alexandra. His estimated current net worth is close to 210 million dollars, making Whelan one of the richest football players of all times.

6. Neymar Jr.

The Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil star is one of the wealthiest footballers in the world with a net worth of $200 million. When playing alongside Lionel Messi, he assisted Barcelona in winning the La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Champions League trebles and helped Barcelona place third in the FIFA Ballon d’Or poll.

7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

One of the world’s most entertaining sports personalities, Zlatan has become well-known to the general public. He is now on a €3.5 million, six-month deal with Serie A team AC Milan. He had a successful playing career with top teams in the AC Milan and Barcelona leagues before moving on to play for Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, and Juventus. He has also served as an endorser for Adidas and Nike.

8. Kylian Mbappe

9. Wayne Rooney

Currently, Rooney is worth $170 million, which is a substantial sum of money. Rooney has consistently ranked in the top 10 earners in football for the last 11 years. He became the first English player to win the Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and FIFA Club World Cup when he transferred to Manchester United in the summer of 2004. Although having retired, he spent the majority of his career as a forward and midfielder. Over the years, he has cooperated with numerous top international brands such as Coca-Cola, EA Sports, and Nike.

10. Ronaldo

Former Brazilian player and businessman Ronaldo Lus Nazario de Lima is better known by his stage name, Ronaldo is regarded as one of the all-time best players. He set a tonne of records and gained a fortune during his illustrious football career. Ronaldo is among the richest football players with a net worth estimated at over 160 million dollars. Since 2000, Ronaldo has served as a goodwill ambassador for the UNDP.

Conclusion

That ends this list of the top 10 richest footballers in the world. Football has been and will continue to be one of the most popular sports in the world. It is viewed as equally popular on a national and international level and is played in almost every nation. Even though their preferences may vary, all of the aforementioned football players have sizable fan bases and they contribute to the game’s status as a unique form of global engagement. In fact, the fans watch this game for them.

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