We are in the ‘money-talks’ football climate, and it’s all clear from the transfer fees paid to sign the players, to the crazy amounts they bank every week.
The thing about this is, the rich ballers do not depend on their weekly pay, but on endorsements, businesses and sponsorships.
Let’s take a look at the ‘big boys’ in the football world, as of 2021.
Faiq Bolkiah- Net Worth $20 Billion
The 23-year-old has a net worth of $20 billion, and he currently plays as a midfielder for Thai club Chonburi and the Brunei national team.
Faiq Bolkiah’s family background informs why he is the world’s wealthiest player, since he is a member of the royal family of Brunei.
The forward is the son of Brunei’s Prince Jefri Bolkiah, and his uncle, Hassanal Bolkiah, is the Sultan of an oil-rich state.
Mathieu Flamini – Net Worth $14 Billion
Now retired, Flamini made his bucks off the pitch, being a co-founder of GF Biochemicals, which manufactures Levulinic Acid, a substance derived from plant waste that may be used in place of petrol.
Apart from that, Flamini and former Arsenal teammate Mesut Ozil co-founded eco-friendly cosmetics company One Unity in 2018. Essentially, he earns a living by preserving the environment, and he is actually richer than his former club!
Cristiano Ronaldo- Net Worth $460 Million
Cristiano Ronaldo made $120 million in 2021, according to Forbes Records, making him the world’s third highest-paid sportsman after Lionel Messi.
His net worth has also expanded significantly as a result of his $47 million in sponsorships, which include five Ballon d’Or awards, FIFA World Player of the Year, and several more.
The forward owns several businesses, and he doesn’t seem to be slowing down with Nike trying to make him the face of their product, according to reports.
Lionel Messi- Net Worth $400.00 Million
With a projected 2021 salary of $130 million, Lionel Messi overtook UFC fighter, Conor McGregor, as the second-highest paid athlete in the world, according to Forbes Records.
Gatorade, Adidas, Huawei, Lay’s, Mastercard, Pepsi, Hawkers, and Ooredoo are just some of the brands that Messi is sponsored by, making him one of the richest footballers in the world.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic- Net Worth of $190.00 Million
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a world-class footballer who is strong and agile. His physical attributes make him one of the most difficult attackers to face, and he has tormented many of the game’s top defenders throughout the course of his six-league career.
The striker now makes €3.5 million per year as a soccer player and, he has endorsement deals worth more than $10 million each year with Nike, Microsoft Xbox, Nivea, Samsung, and Volvo.
Wayne Rooney- Net Worth of $170.00 Million
Currently, Wayne Rooney is the Derby County’s manager, and he is doing some good work in England’s second flight of football.
The former England striker is one of the most marketable active English footballers thanks to sponsorship deals with Nokia, Coca-Cola, Adidas, and FIFA.
He owns a home in the English civil parish of Prestbury, estimated at $17.83 million, and that’s just one of the many things under the 36-year-old’s name.
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