Top 10 Richest Football Players in the World

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the Swedish football superstar, is widely regarded as one of the finest forwards in European football history, and continues to play for AC Milan. As of now, the Swedish legend has scored over 500 goals in various competitions and has been a key player in AC Milan's successes. On average, Ibrahimovic scores 1.5 goals per match. Currently, his transfer value is estimated at around $186 million. In the 2020-2021 season, he played 19 matches and netted 15 goals. Known for making an impact wherever he goes, Ibrahimovic is paid a substantial weekly wage of $138,000 by AC Milan, further increasing his wealth. In addition to his football career, Ibrahimovic endorses several major brands. As a result, his net worth is reported to be $190 million, placing him among the wealthiest football players worldwide.

Neymar is currently playing for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), having signed with the club in August 2017 on a five-year contract worth an astounding $600 million—a record-breaking salary by European standards, second only to Messi. In addition to his hefty salary, Neymar earns substantial income from endorsement deals, often surpassing his football earnings before he even joined PSG.

The Brazilian forward represents numerous global brands, both in Brazil and internationally. His major sponsorships include Nike, Gillette, Beats Electronics, and Red Bull, with advertising revenue alone reaching approximately $30 million. Neymar has truly become a golden face in the advertising world.

With his vast wealth, Neymar has invested in a philanthropic project called the “Instituto Projeto Neymar Jr,” located in the Jardim Gloria neighborhood of Praia Grande, his childhood home. The initiative aims to support underprivileged children in the area by offering opportunities in education, the arts, and sports, helping young talents realize their potential.

Wayne Rooney is a former English striker who currently serves as the head coach of Derby County. After 19 years in professional football, he retired with an impressive record of 313 goals in 763 club appearances and 53 goals in 120 international matches.

Rooney is Manchester United's all-time top scorer with 253 goals from 559 appearances, and he also holds the record for the most goals for the England national team with 53 goals in 120 matches. Often considered part of England's 'Golden Generation,' Rooney's career has been legendary. In addition to his playing earnings and bonuses, he has secured lucrative endorsement deals, which significantly contribute to his wealth. It is estimated that his net worth after retirement stands at around $200 million.

According to The Sun, Welsh midfielder Gareth Bale was the richest athlete under 30 in the world in 2020, with a fortune of £114 million. This wealth primarily stems from his massive weekly salary of £350,000 at Real Madrid.

Bale is also a prominent face in the fashion industry, securing significant endorsement deals. Despite not being in his prime form anymore, he continues to receive high wages and has amassed considerable wealth, including a collection of luxury cars and a mansion.

Andres Iniesta, the Spanish football legend, is celebrated as one of the wealthiest players in the world today. Often referred to as the creative genius behind Barcelona's success, Iniesta was instrumental in the club's rise to dominance, helping to dethrone Real Madrid in La Liga and lead Barcelona to four European championships. His presence in the most intense and pivotal matches of Barcelona’s glory years made him an iconic figure at Camp Nou.

Throughout his career, Iniesta accumulated over 30 major titles and played more than 500 matches, dedicating his best years to the red and blue stripes. Now, Iniesta continues his football journey in Japan with Vissel Kobe, but he remains a hero in the hearts of Barcelona fans.

Mohamed Salah is a professional footballer from Egypt who currently plays in the Premier League for Liverpool, and is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world today. He has become a hero both for his club and his national team, playing a key role in leading Egypt to their first World Cup appearance in nearly 30 years in 2018.

By 2020, Salah’s net worth was estimated at $70 million. Upon joining Liverpool, he signed a contract with a weekly salary of £90,000. Currently, he is the highest-paid player at Anfield, earning £200,000 a week, equivalent to £10.4 million per year. In addition to his football earnings, Salah has secured endorsement deals with major brands like Vodafone, Falken Tires, and Uber.

Paul Pogba is a French footballer who ranks among the wealthiest stars in the sport. His successful career includes winning four Serie A titles with Juventus, the Europa League with Manchester United, and the coveted 2018 World Cup with the French national team.

According to Forbes, Pogba's net worth is estimated to range from £42.5 million to £177 million. In 2018, he was ranked as the fifth highest-paid footballer in the world, following Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Gareth Bale. At Manchester United, Pogba is the second-highest-paid player, earning £290,000 a week, just behind David de Gea, who makes £375,000 a week. Additionally, Pogba has lucrative endorsement deals and even has his own brand, PP.

When discussing the wealthiest footballers in the world, Faiq Jefri Bolkiah cannot be overlooked. Born in 1998, he is the nephew of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, and the son of the prince and oil magnate Jefri Bolkiah. It is no surprise that Faiq comes from a family with immense wealth, including a collection of 2,300 cars—featuring Bentleys, Ferraris, and Rolls-Royces—8 Boeing jets, 5 luxury yachts, 500 homes, and palaces. According to FourFourTwo, the family's total net worth is estimated at around $20 billion.

Faiq Jefri Bolkiah was trained at top clubs such as AFC Newbury, Southampton, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Leicester City. After four years at Leicester, he left to join Portuguese club Maritimo. However, the 23-year-old has yet to play in the Premier League, mostly featuring for youth teams, including the U21s. With a goal of putting Brunei on the global football map, Faiq continues to work towards his personal aspirations.

Lionel Messi, the global football icon, is known for his massive income from his salary at Barcelona, endorsement deals, and investments in real estate. According to recent reports, Messi ranks among the top 100 wealthiest footballers in the world, sitting at number 3. Over nearly 20 years of playing for Barcelona, Messi's net worth has reached $400 million, making him one of the richest athletes globally.

Few could have predicted that a young boy diagnosed with a growth hormone disorder would go on to become one of the greatest footballers in history, often compared to legends of the sport. As of now, Messi is the second player in history, after Cristiano Ronaldo, to surpass the $1 billion earnings milestone.

Ronaldo is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. His enormous salary at Juventus, along with income from his business ventures and endorsement deals, has propelled Cristiano Ronaldo into the ranks of the world's wealthiest athletes.

According to the latest estimates, CR7's total earnings stand at $91 million, making him the first football player to reach a net worth of $1 billion by 2020. A significant portion of Ronaldo's wealth comes from his advertising contracts. As reported by Tuttosport, Ronaldo earns up to 1 million euros for a 4-hour sponsorship deal (about 250,000 euros per hour), which includes a photoshoot, 5 signed t-shirts, and a few social media posts.