List of the richest footballers in the world as of 2024: Who ranks top?

The richest footballers in the world amass their wealth in multiple ways. In addition to their football income, they have lucrative sponsorship deals and business investments and engage in paid media shows and events.

This diversification enables them to retain their marketability and earning power. But who among them is the richest?

For accurate data, we used reliable sources, such as The Scotsman, GiveMeSport, and Celebrity Net Worth, to compile our ranking.

The richest footballers in the world

Football has enabled many people to rise from abject poverty. Many players, including those featured on this list, have overturned their fortunes and live luxuriously.

They are a testament to the transformative power of the game. Given that, who are the wealthiest footballers in the world?

1. Faiq Bolkiah – US$20 billion

Faiq Bolkiah is the richest soccer player in the world. His estimated net worth is $20 billion, much of which comes from his background.

The player is part of the Brunei royal family. He is the son of Jefri Bolkiah, the Prince of Brunei and the nephew of Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei.

Regarding his footballing exploits, Faiq is less successful than the players on this list. He joined the academies of Arsenal and Chelsea but never joined the senior teams. Currently, he plays in the Thai League 1 for Ratchaburi.

2. Lionel Messi – US$650 million

As of 2024, Lionel Messi’s net worth is estimated to be $650 million. This demonstrates his footballing excellence, which has given him endless financial opportunities.

The forward commands a considerable paycheck, which his employer happily provides. Currently, Messi is on a two-and-a-half-year deal worth about US$150 million. In addition, the Argentine generates about US$70 million in endorsements.

Apart from that, Messi has won multiple awards that further bolster his net worth. Away from football, he enjoys several lucrative partnerships with global names, including Adidas, Apple, Pepsi, Konami, and Gatorade.

3. Cristiano Ronaldo – US$600 million

Cristiano Ronaldo’s net worth of US$600 million places him behind his arch-rival, Lionel Messi, on the list of the wealthiest soccer players. Despite his advanced age, Ronaldo, like Messi, still makes millions in the field.

Beyond his financial success, Ronaldo is a proven winner. He has played for the biggest clubs in the world, including Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus.

4. Neymar – US$250 million

Neymar’s net worth of US$250 million pales compared to Messi and Ronaldo’s. When he joined Barcelona in 2013, many believed he would rival the two, but has been unsuccessful.

Nonetheless, the Brazilian has a successful career, playing for Santos, Barcelona, Paris Saint Germain, and Al Hilal. He won several titles, including the UEFA Champions League, La Liga, and the FIFA Club World Cup. Internationally, Neymar is Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals.

5. Karim Benzema – US$200 million

Karim Benzema is a French footballer who plays for Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League. He previously played for the Spanish club Real Madrid, where he succeeded immensely.

He won every trophy in Spain, including La Liga, the Champions League, the Super Cup, the Club World Cup, and the Supercopa de Espana. Before joining Madrid, Benzema played in Lyon.

On an individual level, he has won many awards, the most prestigious being the Ballon d’Or. As a result of his success, Benzema has accumulated enormous wealth, estimated to be $200 million.

6. Kylian Mbappé – US$180 million

Kylian Mbappé has achieved a lot of milestones at a young age. He captains the French national football team and was on the team that won the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Away from the national team, Mbappe has played for Monaco, Paris Saint Germain and Real Madrid. The forward has been relatively successful, winning multiple titles in France. However, he has yet to win the biggest one in club football: the Champions League.

Because of his footballing accomplishments, Mbappé has built massive wealth. As of 2024, his net worth stands at $180 million.

7. Antoine Griezman – US$90 million

Antoine Griezman has been one of the best footballers for over a decade. Before he left Atletico Madrid for Barcelona in 2019, he was one of the team’s best players and won individual awards. These include Onze d’Or, La Liga Best Player, and the French Player of the Year.

In addition, Griezman has been nominated twice for the Ballon d’Or, finishing third in 2016 and 2018. His achievements translate to significant earnings. As of 2024, Griezman’s net worth is estimated to be $90 million.

8. Mohamed Salah – US$90 million

Mohamed Salah has played for Liverpool since 2017 and established himself as one of the club’s most prolific players. In the 2017/18 season, he won the Premier League Player of the Season award. Salah has also won the Premier League Golden Boot three times.

Fondly referred to as “The Egyptian King”, he helped the Reds win the Premier League and the Champions League titles. Meanwhile, Salah has played for Egypt over 100 times and finished as runners-up in the Africa Cup of Nations twice.

As a result of his outstanding career, Salah has acquired enormous financial rewards and built his net worth of around $90 million.

9. Robert Lewandowski – US$85 million

The Polish striker has a net worth of US$85 million. In addition to his financial success, he is the most-capped Polish player with 148 appearances and the highest scorer with 85 goals.

Lewandowski’s glittering career began in his home country, where he played for several clubs before joining Borussia Dortmund, his first club outside Poland.

After establishing himself, the striker signed for Dortmund’s arch-rivals Bayern Munich. He spent eight years, played 375 appearances, scored 344 goals and won eight Bundesliga titles, three DFB-Pokal trophies, and one Champions League title.

10. James Rodriguez – US$80 million

James Rodriguez shot to prominence during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. For his goal against Uruguay, he won the FIFA Puskas Award. Following his impressive performance, Real Madrid bought him.

Playing alongside the most prominent names like Cristiano Ronaldo thrust him into the limelight and boosted his marketability, ultimately solidifying his financial standing. As of 2024, Rodriguez’s net worth is estimated to be US$80 million.

Final word

These are the richest footballers in the world. They have made significant wealth from football and added to it through brand partnerships and investments.

These players are a testament to football’s commercial appeal and a means to achieving financial security.

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