Many media outlets have named Faiq Bolkiah as the richest soccer player in the world. However, even the most die-hard soccer fans would have failed to hear about any of his soccer exploits. Well, that is because he does not really have any. He only has a rich family that is being used to give him the headlines. Headlines, he does not really want.
“I don’t want another story like the one that appeared online [in January 2018],” insisted one of Faiq’s representatives in 2018, according to Bleacher Report. “Faiq isn’t the richest player in the world. That’s nonsense and really unhelpful to him to be called that. He’s just a young boy trying to make a career in football.”
Meet the richest footballer in the world. Leicester City’s Faiq Bolkiah. He is the son of the Prince of Brunei and he is worth $20 billion. 😳🇧🇳 pic.twitter.com/savzYI5GXv
— Football Factly (@FootballFactly) August 14, 2020
“I called the newspaper who ran that original story and said: ‘You won’t be getting anything out of me in the future. You’ll get no cooperation after this,’” the representative said. “We just want him to be shown for what he is, not some silly headline that’s only going to distract from his development.”
24-year-old Faiq was born in the United States and was eligible to play for both USA and Brunei. He chose Brunei and has even captained the national team. Faiq, who is a member of the Bruneian Royal Family, came to light when he was signed by Premier League club Leicester City. However, he never played a single minute for them. As of now, Faiq plays in the Thai Premier League for Chonburi.
Who is the Richest soccer player in the world?
With Faiq Bolkiah, who has a reported net worth of around $20 billion, out of the picture, who is the richest soccer player in the world? Naturally, we would think of one out of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. According to reports about the latest net worths there are may soccer players amassing huge amounts. Messi has a reported net worth of around $600 million while Ronaldo has a net worth of around $500 million.
8. Lionel Messi (Football, net worth: $600 million) pic.twitter.com/DI6yZYCdSE
— Dr. Cyril ➐ 🔰🏴 (@cyril__kay) March 11, 2022
Other players with high net worths include Neymar, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Kylian Mbappe. Brazilian star Neymar is worth over $200 million. Swedish soccer legend Zlatan, who is still going strong at the age of 41, is worth around $190 million. French forward Mbappe is worth around $150 million.
Highest-paid soccer player in 2023
The highest-paid soccer player is Cristiano Ronaldo by a huge margin. The Portuguese star earns around $213 million a year as he signed a bumper contract with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr. After leaving Manchester United mutually, Ronaldo was signed by the Saudi Arabian club right after the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s reported Al Nassr wages:
💰 €200,000,000 per year
💰 €16,666,666 per month
💰 €3,846,153 per week
💰 €547,945 per day
💰 €22,831 per hour
💰 €380 per minute
💰 €6.34 per secondThe largest salary in football history. pic.twitter.com/JdWKweaznp
— whalechart (@WhaleChart) December 31, 2022
Two of the stars of the FIFA World Cup 2022 final fill the second and third spots. Mbappe, who scored a hat trick in the final, is earning $64 million a year. Meanwhile, Messi, who scored a brace and lifted the World Cup, is earning around $42 million a year.