20 Richest Soccer Players In History

20 Richest Soccer Players In History

Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world, and with that popularity comes a lot of money. From Cristiano Ronaldo to Lionel Messi, these players are all considered great legends of the game. In addition to being a part of the wealthiest athletes, they have been highly recognized and have all won numerous awards and accolades, and they have all made a significant impact on the sport of soccer.

Soccer players are some of the highest-paid athletes in the world, and some of them have amassed incredible wealth. In this article, we will take a look at the 20 richest soccer players in history. These players have all made a fortune from playing soccer. We will look at their careers, their earnings, and their net worth. We will also discuss their business ventures and their philanthropy.

1. Faiq Bolkiah – Net Worth: $20B

Faiq ibni Jefri Bolkiah is a member of the Brunei royal family and a professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Ratchaburi in Thai League 1. Born in the United States, he has represented and served as the captain of the Brunei national team. Bolkiah is the richest soccer player in history and has an estimated net worth of $20 billion.

2. Mathieu Flamini – Net Worth: $14B

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Mathieu Flamini is a French former professional footballer and biochemical entrepreneur. A midfielder, he played for French side Marseille, English sides Arsenal and Crystal Palace, Italian side Milan and Spanish side Getafe. At international level, he was capped by the France national team on three occasions.

Flamini is a billionaire with a net worth of $14 billion. He is a former Marseille, Arsenal and AC Milan midfielder who retired in 2016. After leaving football, he fully committed to GF Biochemicals, a sustainable biochemical company he co-founded in 2008.

3. David Beckham  – Net Worth: $450M

David Beckham is an English former professional footballer. Beckham has been hailed as one of the greatest and most recognizable midfielders of his generation, as well as one of the best set-piece specialists of all time. Due to his talent and achievements for both club and country, Beckham is lauded as one of the greatest Manchester United footballers of all time, as well as one of the best English players in the history of the sport. He is the first English player to win league titles in four countries: England, Spain, the United States and France.

Beckham has built an unbeatable brand that has brought him immense wealth. Beckham has endorsed many famous businesses throughout his career, including H&M, Adidas, L’Oreal, Tudor Watches, and Samsung & Breitling. His current net worth is $450 million.

4. Dave Whelan – Net Worth: $210M

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Dave Whelan is an English businessman and former footballer. During his football career, he played for Blackburn Rovers and Crewe Alexandra. Whelan is the former owner of club Wigan Athletic, having also been the chairman of the club for twenty years.

The retired English soccer player’s wealth is not only linked to his playing days at Crewe Alexandra and the Blackburn Rovers but also to his club, Wigan Athletic and the JJB Sports company. He has an estimated net worth of $210 million.

5. Zlatan Ibrahimović  – Net Worth: $190M

Zlatan Ibrahimović is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a striker. Ibrahimović is renowned for his acrobatic strikes and volleys, technique and ball control, as well as his physical dominance. 

Zlatan has become a household name for being one of the most entertaining sports personalities in the world. He receives about $35 million in earnings from his club and much more from endorsements. His current net worth is $190 million.

6. Wayne Rooney  – Net Worth: $170M

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Wayne Rooney is an English professional football manager and former player who is the manager of the EFL Championship club Birmingham City. Widely considered one of the best players of his generation, Rooney is the record goal scorer for Manchester United and was the record goal scorer for the England national team from 2015 to 2023. He has also made more appearances for England than any other outfield player. Rooney spent most of his playing career as a forward but was also used in various midfield roles.

Wayne Rooney is a retired football player and football manager. He spent much of his career playing for the position of forward and midfielder. Rooney has an estimated net worth of $170 million.

7. Ronaldo  – Net Worth: $160M

Ronaldo is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a striker. He is the owner of Brasileiro Série A club Cruzeiro and owner and president of Segunda Division club Real Valladolid. Nicknamed O Fenômeno, meaning The Phenomenon and R9, he is considered one of the greatest players of all time. 

As a multi-functional striker who brought a new dimension to the position, Ronaldo has been an influence on a generation of strikers that have followed. His current net worth is $160 million.

8. Alexandre Pato  – Net Worth: $145M

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Alexandre Pato is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a striker for São Paulo. A full international for Brazil since 2008, Pato was part of their squads which won the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and competed at the 2011 Copa América. He also won two consecutive Olympic medals for the country, a bronze in 2008, and silver four years later.

Pato grew his wealth through investments with CoverGirl Cosmetics endorsements, real estate, a chain of restaurants, a vodka line, a fashion line and more. His current net worth is $145 million.

9. Cristiano Ronaldo – Net Worth: $136M

Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for and captains both the Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr and the Portugal national team. In February 2021, Ronaldo became the first person in the world to reach 500 million followers across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. As of April 2022, he had 849 million.

Ronaldo is estimated to have a net worth of  $136M. In addition to a lifetime deal with Nike, Ronaldo makes money off the pitch with his CR7-branded clothing, accessories, hotels and gyms.

10. Lionel Messi – Net Worth: $130M

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Lionel Messi is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for and captains both Major League Soccer club Inter Miami and the Argentina national team. Messi claimed the Ballon d’Or as the world’s best soccer player for a record seventh time in 2021, putting him two ahead of his rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

When he transferred to Paris Saint-Germain from FC Barcelona, a contract leak in January 2021 showed Messi was making much more at Barcelona than previously thought; he was able to earn up to $165 million annually in salary and incentives. In March 2022, he signed an endorsement deal with fan engagement app Socios that is set to pay him $20 million annually. He launched his own clothing line and opened his first retail outlet, the Messi Store, in 2019 in Barcelona. He also has a lifelong deal with Adidas.

11. Paul Pogba  – Net Worth: $125M

Paul Pogba is a French professional footballer who plays for Serie A club Juventus and the France national team. A versatile player, he operates primarily as a central midfielder but can be deployed as a left winger, attacking midfielder, defensive midfielder and deep-lying playmaker.

Pogba is one of the most prominent figures in the football era. He has an estimated net worth of $125 million, earning an annual salary of $33 million. 

12. Kylian Mbappé – Net Worth: $120M

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Kylian Mbappé is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and captains the France national team. Regarded as one of the best players in the world, he is renowned for his dribbling abilities, exceptional speed, and finishing strong. 

At just 24, Mbappe has become the face of French soccer, collecting three Ligue 1 Player of the Year Awards and leading the league in scoring four times in four years, while setting himself up for a fifth goals title in 2022-23. He is partnered with brands including Nike and Hublot. In 2020, EA Sports picked him for the cover of FIFA 21, making him one of the youngest ever to grace that brand’s cover solo.

13. Andres Iniesta – Net Worth: $120M

Andres Iniesta is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for UAE Pro League club Emirates. Considered one of the greatest midfielders of all time, he was lauded for his balance, ball control and agility in close spaces, combined with his skill, composure, and flair on the ball.

Iniesta is regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. He signed a three-year contract with Japan’s Vissel Kobe for $33 million per year for three years. His current net worth is $120 million.

14. Mesut Ozil –  Net Worth: $120M

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Mesut Özil is a German former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. Known for his technical skills, creativity, passing skills, and vision, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders and playmakers of his generation. 

In July 2022, Ozil signed a one-year contract with İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. with an option of an additional year. Ozil is regarded as one of the most creative and intelligent players in the world of football, with a net worth of $120 million.

15. Eden Hazard – Net Worth: $100M

Eden Hazard is a Belgian former professional footballer who played as a winger or attacking midfielder for Lille, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and the Belgium national team. Known for his creativity, dribbling, passing and vision, Hazard is regarded as one of the best players of his generation. 

In 2022, Hazard announced his retirement from Real Madrid at the age of 31. His current net worth is estimated to be $100 million, with an annual salary of $15 million.

16. Samuel Eto  – Net Worth: $95M

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Samuel Eto is a Cameroonian football administrator and former player who has been the current president of the Cameroonian Football Federation since 2021. In his prime, Eto’o was regarded by pundits as one of the best strikers in the world, and he is regarded as one of the greatest African players of all time.

Eto has an estimated net worth of $95 million with an annual salary of $26 million. He retired in 2019, having firmly established himself as one of the greatest African strikers of all time, alongside George Weah and Didier Drogba.

17. Neymar Jr –  Net Worth: $85M

Neymar is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal and the Brazil national team. His 2017 transfer from Barcelona to PSG stands as the most expensive ever at $263 million, which the French club paid in full ahead of his signing.

In 2020, Neymar announced an early exit from his contract with Nike’s Jordan Brand and signed with Puma. He is diving into the world of NFTs, signing with the platform NFTSTAR in November 2021 and spending over $1 million on two Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs in one day in January 2022.

18. Sergio Ramos – Net Worth: $80M

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Sergio Ramos is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a defender for La Liga club Sevilla. Widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders of all time, he is known for his exceptional tackling skills, aerial abilities and strong leadership. 

In July 2021,  Ramos signed a two-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain. He receives an annual salary of $25 million, and his net worth is alleged to be $80 million.

19. Mohamed Salah –  Net Worth: $53M

Salah is Liverpool FC’s all-time Champions League goals leader. In October 2020, he scored his 100th Premier League goal for the Reds, becoming the fastest player to do so in club history in the top flight. Salah signed a new three-year contract with Liverpool in July 2022, tying him to the team until the summer of 2025.

Salah is a leading philanthropist, primarily in his home country of Egypt.  Adidas celebrated his ability to unite people through sport in its Impossible Is Nothing campaign and projected him onto the Burj Khalifa’s façade.

20. Erling Haaland –  Net Worth: $52M

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Haaland is one of soccer’s fastest-rising stars, he commanded a $63 million transfer fee in his move from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City in 2022. In his first year with Man City, he broke the Premier League’s single-season scoring record, tallying his 35th goal in May 2023, with five games left to play in the season. Haaland benefited from a bidding war to sign him to a new boot sponsorship, eventually choosing Nike.

These players have all achieved great success on the pitch, and they have also been very successful in terms of their business ventures. They are all role models for young soccer players around the world, who intend to fill their shoes. They also serve as an inspiration to us all.