Do you know that debate about who is the richest player in the world? Well, the answer surprises quite a few people. Most immediately think of Cristiano Ronaldo or Messi, but in reality, the top of the list is Faiq Bolkiah, nephew of the Sultan of Brunei, with an estimated fortune of 20 billion dollars. The difference is that his wealth comes from family inheritance, not from football itself.

But if we focus on players who built their wealth through their careers, then the story changes. Cristiano Ronaldo ranks second in wealth among the most well-known athletes, with around 500 million accumulated. He earned a lot not only from salaries (220 million per year at Al-Nassr) but also from advertising, hotels, gyms, and licensing deals. Messi comes right after with 400 million, quite discreet but with solid global contracts.

The most interesting thing is that there are players who became the second-richest in the world without being as famous as those on the field. Mathieu Flamini, former Arsenal and Milan player, is a perfect example. After retiring, he founded GF Biochemicals and became a billionaire through sustainable bioproducts businesses. It shows that investments outside the field can yield much more than a player's salary.

In 2025 and 2026, salaries remain absurd even with the reduction in the Saudi Pro League. Ronaldo led with 220 million on the field plus 65 million from advertising. Neymar at Al-Hilal earned 80 million on the field, Mbappé at Real Madrid 70 million. Benzema still earns 100 million a year.

What’s most striking is that the second-richest player in the world (considering total net worth) is often someone nobody expected. Wealth in football isn’t just about salary; it’s about inheritance, investments, companies, and financial decisions made throughout a career. Cristiano, Messi, Neymar built serious wealth, but there are people with fortunes much larger who never make headlines.

The clubs have also become insanely wealthy. Real Madrid leads with 6.6 billion, Manchester United with 6.5 billion, Barcelona 5.6 billion. And behind all this is the money from owners — sovereign funds from Saudi Arabia, billionaires, royal families. Football has truly become a billion-dollar industry, very different from just a few years ago.