Football Players are synonymous to lavish lifestyles and outrageous salaries in the modern game. In past times, players had limited power, but as the game develops, the past transfer windows have shown enough drama as the power tilts towards the players rather than their clubs.
Players like Neymar and Kylian Mbappe both bought by PSG have skyrocketed the transfer values of players, whilst also pushing up the paychecks. This shift of fortune and power could be crucial in the future as football players are constantly moving up the list of highest-earning players in the world.
A majority of footballers’ wealth comes from endorsements as they are among the world’s most marketable athletes. They are celebs. Also, their god-like status is partly due to the lucrative contracts they sign with their respective clubs which include performance-based incentives as well. Here is a list of the Top 10 Richest Players in the World right now:
#1 Faiq Bolkiah (Leicester City) (20 billion)
The relatively unknown Faiq Bolkiah is by far the richest football player in the world. The 20-year-old who currently plays for Premier League side Leicester City comes from oil-rich Brunei and is the captain of the Brunei national team. Faiq Bolkiah descends from royalty and is the son of the Prince of Brunei, Jefri Bolkiah. The Bolkiah family has an estimated net worth of $20 billion USD. Faiq earns only $1000-a-week in wages at Leicester and has an endorsement deal with Nike as per his Instagram bio. However, his family net worth makes him the richest football player on the planet which makes him the richest football player on the planet.
#2 Lionel Messi (Barcelona)(450 million)
Messi comes in second place in richest players of the world as he has a total net worth of approximately $450 million, which comes from playing with Spanish football giant FC Barcelona. The Argentine player’s salary and bonuses from Barcelona total around $84 million, while the money that he earns through endorsements is worth $27 million.
He has a lifelong deal with Adidas alongside being the face of Pepsi, Gatorade, Huawei and Hawkers. Messi is the brand ambassador of UNICEF and recently signed a big-money contract with his club, making him the highest-paid football player on the planet.
#3 Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)(400 million)
Cristiano’s estimated net worth is around $400 million, placing him as the 3rd richest football player in the world. Ronaldo earns $47 million from endorsements itself as he is one of the world’s most recognizable football brands.
The Juventus ace pockets $61 million through his salary and bonuses from his club. He has lucrative deals with Nike, Herbalife, EA Sports, and American Tourister. Ronaldo also has his own CR7 brand of clothing and innerwear alongside the CR7 chain of hotels.
#4 Zlantan Ibrahimovic (AC Milan) (190 million)
Former Barcelona, AC Milan and Manchester United star forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic is fourth on this list. The Swedish international and former captain currently plays for AC Milan and earns a reported $138,000-a-week wages. However, Ibrahimovic has sponsorship deals with the likes of Nivea, Nike, Microsoft Xbox and Vitamin Well. The Swedish forward has a net worth estimated to be $190m.
#5 Neymar (PSG) (185 million)
Paris Saint-Germain shook the world when they took Neymar from Barcelona for a mammoth fee of £198 million. He has since established himself as a global icon alongside Messi and Ronaldo.
The Brazilian has a salary of $73m while he earns $17m from endorsements, therefore posting a total earning of $90m annually. Neymar also has global sponsors like Nike, Red Bull, Gillette, McDonald’s and Beats by Dre. The 26-year old’s contract with PSG has certain clauses which upon being fulfilled will land him various bonuses. Neymar Jr’s net worth as of 2020 is valued at $185 million, placing him as the 5th richest football player in the world.
#6 Wayne Rooney (DC United) (160 million)
English player Wayne Rooney has a net worth around $160 million. The Former Manchester United star recently returned to his youth club Everton, only to spend one year at his boyhood club.
He has to undergo a massive pay cut to play for Everton who could only afford half of what Rooney earned at United. Later, he signed for MLS side DC United where has signed a lucrative contract. Rooney too has tie-ups with big brands like Adidas. Rooney also has endorsement deals with Coca Cola, Nike, EA Sports and Samsung.
#7 Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) (125 million)
The Welsh express is now Real Madrid’s main man after Ronaldo departed for Turin. Madrid made Bale their most expensive signing in 2013 and he has since become a big game player for Los Blancos.
Gareth Bale has a bumper deal with Adidas while his gross earning is $34.6m annually out of which $6m are from endorsements and the remaining $28.6m is his salary. He has sponsors including Adidas, Lucozade, BT Sport, and EA Sports. Gareth Bale’s net worth as of 2020 is valued at $125 million, placing him as the 7th richest football player in the world.
#8 Andreas Iniesta (Vissel Kobe) (120 million)
Former Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta is one of Spain’s most decorated players of all-time winning the UEFA Champions League at club level and the Euro 2008 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup for Spain.
Iniesta currently plies his trade for Japanese club, Vissel Kobe, earning a whopping $576,923-a-week wages. The Spanish midfielder also has a sponsorship deal with Japanese footwear brand Asics and owns a vineyard selling wine under the brand name Minuto 116, named after the minute he scored for Spain in the 2010 World Cup final. Andres Iniesta’s net worth is valued at $120 million, as of 2020, making him the 8th richest football player in the world.
#9 Eden Hazard (Chelsea)(100 million)
Former Chelsea attacker Eden Hazard secured a blockbuster €100m transfer to Real Madrid last summer and is one of the highest earners for the Spanish giants. Hazard is currently on a contract worth £400,000-a-week with Real Madrid and the Belgium captain has sponsorship deals with Nike, Topps and Electronics Arts. Eden Hazard’s net worth is valued at $100 million, as of 2020, which makes him the 9th richest football player in the world.
#10 Paul Pogba (Manchester United)(85 million)
Manchester United topped the most valuable clubs’ list and it is no wonder this list includes their record signing Paul Pogba whom they signed from Juventus for a record fee of £89m.
According to Forbes, he earns $29.5m annually from his $25m worth salary and $4.5m from endorsements. The Frenchman has a 10-year deal with Adidas valued at around $31 million. A former youth academy graduate at United, Paul Pogba is one of the clubs’ highest-earning players at £350,000-a-week. Paul Pogba’s net worth is valued at $85 million as of 2020, which finds him the 10th spot in our list of the richest football players in the world.
