I found out that the list of the richest players in the world is quite different from what we imagine. Like, everyone thinks Cristiano Ronaldo is the richest because he earns an absurd fortune, but in reality, the one leading the ranking is Faiq Bolkiah with about $20 billion. I’d never even heard of him, but it makes sense once you find out that he’s the nephew of the Sultan of Brunei and inherited a huge fortune.

What’s interesting is that the list of the richest players in the world mixes people who are still playing with retirees, showing that the best salary doesn’t always mean being the richest. Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi are there with $500 million and $400 million respectively, but there’s a guy you probably don’t know—Mathieu Flamini—who became a billionaire after leaving football by founding a bioproducts company. Like, he made more money after hanging up his boots than he did during his entire career as a player.

The salaries in 2026 remain absurd even though the Saudi Pro League has reduced investment. Cristiano Ronaldo keeps racking up $220 million per year just in salary, plus $65 million in sponsorships. Messi, Neymar, Mbappé—everyone with numbers that look like they came straight out of a video game. But the craziest part is that the athletes’ market value is a completely different story. Haaland and Vinícius Jr are valued at €200 million, while some players with lower salaries have a higher market value.

Football has turned into a money-making machine. It’s not just about playing well—it’s about personal branding, global sponsorships, real estate investments, and hotels. Coaches have also jumped on this wave and now earn absurd fortunes. Simeone earns $40 million a year as a coach, while Guardiola makes $24 million. It’s kind of like a CEO position.

And when you look at the clubs, Real Madrid leads with $6.6 billion, followed by Manchester United with $6.5 billion. Barcelona, Liverpool, Manchester City—everyone has valuations in the billions. Behind it all are billionaires and sovereign funds injecting cash. Saudi Arabia’s PIF fund has $700 billion to invest in football. That explains why certain clubs seem to have infinite money, while others struggle to compete.