Meet the world's richest footballer: Faiq Bolkiah plays for Leicester City and is the nephew of the Sultan of Brunei It was Cristiano Ronaldo who came out on top with a net worth of £250 million, followed closely by Lionel Messi in second with £230 million.
Lionel Messi is not officially a billionaire by net worth (estimated around $850 million as of early 2026) but became the second footballer (after Cristiano Ronaldo) to cross $1 billion in total career earnings (pre-tax) in 2020, with his fortune continuing to grow through massive contracts (Inter Miami, endorsements like Adidas), business ventures (hotels, production), and social media. He's still actively building his wealth and is expected to reach billionaire status in net worth soon, notes sources like Lifestyle Asia.
Lionel Messi has officially surpassed David Beckham in career earnings, according to Sportico's latest list, despite currently playing for Beckham's Inter Miami in MLS. A financial milestone that underscores Messi's global dominance on and off the pitch.
The First Billionaire Footballer 💰 Cristiano Ronaldo became the first footballer to hit a $1 billion net worth - but that's not even the most impressive part. In an interview, he revealed he's been planning for retirement since age 28, and doesn't want to coach… he wants to own a team.
‼️Cristiano Ronaldo: “I have around 41 cars. I love Bugatti's. They are beasts." "But I don't drive. I just check to see if they are clean and if they are in a good state."
Cristiano Ronaldo has officially become the world's first trillionaire footballer! 🐐⚽ From humble beginnings to global dominance — his story inspires millions. Watch this emotional and powerful journey of the legend who never stopped believing.
Cristiano Ronaldo acquired a Gulfstream G650 private jet for $75 million, making it one of the fastest jets available. With an impressive range of 7,500 nautical miles and opulent interiors that can accommodate 19 passengers. This aircraft showcases his signature CR7 branding and epitomizes luxury and speed.
"I'm at a point where I want to step out of the spotlight a bit, think more about my family," Messi said. "I had two years where I was so unhappy on a personal level that I didn't enjoy it.
Faiq has been described as "the richest footballer in the world", with an estimated net worth of US$20 billion but this is actually the net worth of his uncle, Hassanal Bolkiah, the current Sultan of Brunei.
Deciding if Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo is "better" is subjective, but Messi often leads in playmaking (more assists, vision, dribbling) and individual awards (more Ballon d'Ors), while Ronaldo boasts more Champions League goals, a higher overall goal tally (though Messi has a better goal-to-game ratio), and international success with Portugal (Euro 2016), complementing Messi's World Cup win with Argentina. Both are considered among the greatest ever, with Messi often praised for his creativity and Ronaldo for his powerful execution and longevity.
🐐Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first billionaire football player with his net worth climbing to $1.4 BILLION, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Britain's first million-pound footballer was Trevor Francis, who transferred from Birmingham City to Nottingham Forest in February 1979 for a fee that officially topped £1 million, though initially reported as £999,999 to reduce pressure, with total costs exceeding the figure with extra levies. He famously scored the winning goal in the European Cup Final just months later, cementing his legendary status.
