Soccer players are amongst the richest pro athletes in the world. However, being a professional footballer at the very top is far from being an easy task. The annual paychecks of most players compensate them extravagantly for all their hard work. One of the richest footballers in the world is not a multi-millionaire but a multi-billionaire.
Here’s a list of the richest soccer players in the world as of 2024.
The Richest Soccer Players: Faiq Bolkiah – $20 Billion
Faiq Bolkiah sits atop the list of the world’s wealthiest soccer stars with a net worth of about $20 billion. However, he has made only a tiny fraction of it as a pro footballer. Bolkiah belongs to the royal family of Brunei and is himself the prince of the southeastern sultanate. He is the nephew of Jefri Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei. Faiq has played for Premier League giants like Chelsea and Leicester City with fairly average performances in both of his stints in England. He also led the Brunei national team from 2014 to 2018.
The Richest Soccer Players: Lionel Messi – $600 Million
Second on the list is Lionel Messi with a staggering net worth of $600 million. The current Inter Miami star is one of the richest soccer players in the world who has made most of his fortune from soccer paychecks, brand endorsements, and business investments. The Argentinian forward previously played for Paris Saint Germain and FC Barcelona before arriving in Miami in the summer of 2023. His current annual salary is reported to be north of $50 million.
Cristiano Ronaldo – $500 million
The next stop is taken by a very obvious name – Cristiano Ronaldo. The wealth of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have always been pretty close to each other. The Portuguese skipper has a current net worth close to $500 million. Ronaldo reportedly takes home an annual salary upwards of $200 million from his current club Al-Nassr with additional perks that are no lesser than that of a king. Before making a surprise move to Saudi Arabia, he played for Manchester United, Juventus, Real Madrid, and Sporting CP.
David Beckham – $450 Million
David Beckham is one of the few footballers who has been equally impressive both on and off the pitch. The former English footballer has a net worth of $450 million. Beckham, one of the richest soccer players, has made a considerable chunk of wealth off the pitch with his massive brand endorsements and business investments. He owns sizeable stakes in Inter Miami CF and Saltford City FC.
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Neymar Jr. is considered one of the finest footballers of his generation and the Brazilian star has amassed a wealth of $220 million on paper. Most of his riches come from his club salaries and huge brand endorsements. He currently plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal and is reportedly taking home an approximate figure of $150 million every year. Before moving to the Saudi Pro League, Neymar played for PSG, FC Barcelona, and Santos FC.