Who are the top 20 richest footballers in the world right now?

Who are the top 20 richest footballers in the world right now?

Ciku Njuguna, Jackline Wangare
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:08 PM

Professional sportsmen and women make up a substantial percentage of the wealthiest people in the world. In this article, you will discover who is the richest footballer in the world in 2023, their net worth and their houses and cars.

Who is the richest footballer in 2023?
Photo: canva.com (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Several football players worldwide have achieved global fame and fortune because of the game. Dig in to learn more about the top 20 richest footballers in the world and their net worth.

Most richest footballer in the world

Wealthy footballers play in the most successful soccer leagues. The top football leagues include the English Premier League, the Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1.

Who is the richest footballer in 2023? Below is a list of the top richest footballers as of 2023.

20. Sergio Aguero - $80 million

Who is the richest footballer in 2023?
Sergio Aguero of Kunisports looks on during round three of the Kings League Infojobs match between Kunisports and Porcinos FC at Cupra Arena in Barcelona, Spain. Photo: Pedro Salado
Source: Getty Images

Full name

Sergio Leonel Agüero del Castillo

Date of birth

2 June 1988

Age

34 years old (as of 2023)

Place of birth

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Cars

Ferrari GTC4 Lusso and a Lamborghini Aventador

House

Waterfront mansion in Hollywood

Sergio Aguero is one of the richest players earning a salary of $23.5 million. He paid $15 million for a waterfront mansion at 900 South Northlake Drive in Hollywood and signed a £12 million contract with FC Barcelona. His net worth is estimated to be $80 million.

19. Sergio Ramos - $80 million

world most richest footballer
Sergio Ramos of PSG during the Ligue 1 match between Montpellier HSC and Paris Saint-Germain at Stade de la Mosson in Montpellier, France. Photo: Jean Catuffe
Source: Getty Images

Full name

Sergio Ramos García

Date of birth

30 March 1986

Age

36 years old (as of 2023)

Place of birth

Camas, Spain

Current team

Paris Saint-Germain

Position

Defender

Cars

Porsche 911 Turbo S, Mercedes-AMG G63, Audi RS6 Quattro

Houses

Mansion La Moraleja

La Moraleja lives in a £12 million mansion in La Moraleja which he bought in 2017. In July 2021, he signed a two-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain. He receives an annual salary of $25 million, and his net worth is alleged to be $80 million.

18. Samuel Eto - $95 million

is messi a billionaire
Samuel Eto'o of Cameroon during the Africa Cup of Nations match between Cameroon and Tunisia from the Alto da Chela Stadium in Lubango, Angola. Photo: Lefty Shivambu
Source: Getty Images

Full name

Samuel Eto'o Fils

Date of birth

10 March 1981

Age

41 years old (as of 2023)

Place of birth

Douala, Cameroon

President

Cameroonian Football Federation

Position

Forward

Cars

Ferrari 458 Italia Mansory Siracusa, Maybach 57S Xenatec Coupe

Houses

Villa in Italy

Samuel Eto has an estimated net worth of $95 million with an annual salary of $26 million. He purchased Lord Carnarvon's Italian villa, Villa Altachiara, for £20 million. He retired in 2019, having firmly established himself as one of the greatest African strikers of all time, alongside George Weah and Didier Drogba.

17. Eden Hazard - $100 million

messi net worth
Eden Hazard of Belgium in action during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group F match between Croatia and Belgium at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha, Qatar. Photo: Juan Luis Diaz
Source: Getty Images

Full name

Eden Michael Walter Hazard

Date of birth

7 January 1991

Age

32 years old (as of 2023)

Place of birth

La Louvière, Belgium

Current team

Real Madrid

Position

Forward

Cars

Mercedes-Benz AMG GTR, Audi R8 V10, BMW X6, Range-Rover Sport

Houses

Mansion in Spanish

Eden Hazard lives in his six-bedroom mansion in Madrid that costed him £11 million. In 2022, he announced his retirement from the national team at the age of 31. His current net worth is estimated to be $100 million, with an annual salary of $15 million.

16. Mesut Ozil - $120 million

ronaldo and messi who is the richest
Mesut Ozil of Basaksehir during the UEFA Conference League Play-Off Second Leg match between Royal Antwerp FC and Istanbul Basaksehir at the Bosuilstadion in Antwerp, Belgium Photo: Rene Nijhuis
Source: Getty Images

Full name

Mesut Özil

Date of birth

15 October 1988

Age

34 years old (as of 2023)

Place of birth

Gelsenkirchen, West Germany

Current team

İstanbul Başakşehir

Position

Attacking midfielder

Cars

Ferrari 458, Porsche Panamera Turbo

Houses

Mansion in London

Mesut Ozil purchased a six-bedroom mansion in North London for £10 million. In July 2022, he signed a one-year contract with İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. with an option of an additional year. Ozil is regarded as one of the most creative and intelligent players in the world of football, with a net worth of $120 million.

15. Andres Iniesta - $120 million

Who is the No 1 richest footballer in the world?
Andres Iniesta of Vissel Kobe looks on during the J.LEAGUE Meiji Yasuda J1 7th Sec. match between F.C.Tokyo and Vissel Kobe at Ajinomoto Stadium in Chofu, Tokyo, Japan. Photo: Koji Watanabe
Source: Getty Images

Full name

Andrés Iniesta Luján

Place of birth

11 May 1984

Age

38 years old (as of 2023)

Date of birth

Fuentealbilla, Spain

Current team

Vissel Kobe

Position

Midfielder

Cars

Bugatti Veyron, Audi A7 and Nissan Pulsar

Houses

Mansion in Fuentealbilla, Spain

Andrés Iniesta Luján is regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time. He signed a three-year contract with Japan's Vissel Kobe for $33 million per year for three years. Andrés spent £4.6 million to build his Fuentealbilla 5-bedroom mansion in 2005. His current net worth is $120 million.

14. Paul Pogba - $125 million

Which soccer player is a billionaire?
Paul Pogba of Juventus arrives at the stadium prior to the Pre-Season Friendly between Juventus vs Juventus B in Villar Perosa, Italy. Photo: Valerio Pennicino
Source: Getty Images

Full name

Paul Labile Pogba

Date of birth

15 March 1993

Age

29 years old (as of 2023)

Place of birth

Lagny-sur-Marne, France

Current team

Juventus F.C.

Position

Midfielder

Cars

Ferrari 812

Houses

Mansion in Cheshire

Pogba is one of the most prominent figures in the football arena. He has an estimated net worth of $125 million, earning an annual salary of $33 million. In 2020, Paul Pogba bought a luxurious condo in Miami on the 61st floor of the One Thousand Museum.

13. Gareth Bale - $145 million

Who is the richest footballer in 2023?
Gareth Bale reacts to his putt on the first green during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at Spyglass Hill Golf Course in Pebble Beach, California. Photo: Jed Jacobsohn
Source: Getty Images

Full name

Gareth Frank Bale

Date of birth

16 July 1989

Age

33 years old (as of 2023)

Place of birth

Cardiff, Wales

Current team

Los Angeles FC

Position

Winger

Cars

Audi Q7 50 TDI, Bentley Continental GT, and Mercedes SLS AMG

Houses

La Finca mansion

Gareth Bale earns a $33 million annual salary and a net worth of $145 million. Apart from his football career, Gareth also makes money from endorsements. He owns a £4 million mansion with six bedrooms, a dressing room, a study, and a three-hole custom golf course in the garden.

12. Alexandre Pato - $145 million

world most richest footballer
Alexandre Pato celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the AFC Champions League Round of 16 second leg match at Tianhe Sports Center in Guangzhou, China. Photo: XIN LI
Source: Getty Images

Full name

Alexandre Rodrigues da Silva

Date birth

2 September 1989

Age

33 years old (as of 2023)

Place of birth

Pato Branco, State of Paraná, Brazil

Current team

Orlando City SC

Position

Forward

Cars

Mercedes-Maybach Exelero, Ferrari Pininfarina Sergio, Bentley Flying Spur, Porsche Panamera Turbo S

How is Pato so rich? A report by the DailyMail revealed that he grew his wealth through investments with CoverGirl Cosmetics endorsements, real estate, a chain of restaurants, a vodka line, a fashion line and more. His current net worth is $145 million.

11. Kylian Mbappe $150 million

is messi a billionaire
Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain reacts during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Stade Reims at Parc des Princes in Paris, France. Photo: Aurelien Meunier
Source: Getty Images

Full name

Kylian Mbappé Lottin

Date of birth

20 December 1998

Age

24 years old (as of 2023)

Place of birth

19th arrondissement of Paris, Paris, France

Current team

Paris Saint-Germain

Position

Forward

Cars

Ferrari 488 Pista, Volkswagen Multi Van and Mercedes-Benz V Class

Houses

Bondy, Paris

Kylian Mbappe signed a contract with Paris Saint-Germain for an annual salary of $63 million. His monthly salary is $1.15 million. In 2017, he paid £8.5 million for the property he had lived in one of Paris' most affluent neighbourhoods for the past four years. Kylian Mbappe's net worth is $150 million.

10. Ronaldo - $160 million

messi net worth
Real Valladolid president Ronaldo Luis Nazario poses during a breakfast briefing with the Valladolid sports press at the Real Sociedad Hipica in Valladolid, Castilla y Leon, Spain. Photo: Photogenic
Source: Getty Images

Full name

Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima

Date birth

18 September 1976

Age

46 years old (as of 2023)

Place birth

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Cars

Mercedes, Audi, Ferrari, Range Rover, Lamborghini

Houses

Penthouse in Sao Paolo and a mansion in Rio de Janeiro

Formally known as Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, the Brazilian soccer wonder has built his name as one of the best footballers of all time. The football legend owns several houses in Brazil and America, including his expansive Rio de Janeiro home and a penthouse in São Paulo. His current net worth is $160 million.

9. Wayne Rooney - $170 million

ronaldo and messi who is the richest
Wayne Rooney departs the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand in London, England. Photo: Karwai Tang
Source: Getty Images

Full name

Wayne Mark Rooney

Date of birth

24 October 1985

Age

37 years old (as of 2023)

Place of birth

Croxteth, Liverpool, United Kingdom

Cars

Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, Lamborghini Gallardo, Aston Martin Vanquish S

Houses

Cheshire mansion

Wayne Rooney is a retired football player and football manager. He spent much of his career playing for the position of forward and midfielder. Wayne is currently living in his £20 million mansion, which is built on the 40-acre of land. He has an estimated net worth of $170 million.

8. Zlatan Ibrahimović - $190 million

Who is the No 1 richest footballer in the world?
Zlatan Ibrahimović attends the Asterix Et Obelix: L'Empire Du Milieu Premiere At Le Grand Rex in Paris, France. Photo: Pascal Le Segretain
Source: Getty Images

Full name

Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior

Place of birth

5 February 1992

Age

31 years old (as of 2023)

Date of birth

Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil

Current team

Forward

Position

AC Milan

Cars

4 Ferarris, Porsche, Lamborghini Urus

Houses

Mansions on Lake Como, Italy and Cheshire, England

Zlatan has become a household name for being one of the most entertaining sports personalities in the world. He receives about $35 million in earnings from his club and much more from endorsements. His current net worth is $190 million.

7. Neymar Jr - $200 million

Which soccer player is a billionaire?
Neymar Jr of PSG during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Stade de Reims at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France. Photo: Jean Catuffe
Source: Getty Images

Full name

Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior

Date birth

5 February 1992

Age

31 years old (as of 2023)

Place of birth

Mogi das Cruzes, State of São Paulo, Brazil

Current team

Paris Saint-Germain F.C.

Position

Forward

Cars

Ferrari, Maserati, Aston Martin, Audi R8, Porsche, Lamborghini, Range Rover, Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita, Lamborghini Veneno

Houses

Mansion in Bougival, Paris, a mansion in Sao Paolo, Brazil

Is Neymar a billionaire? Although fans believe that Neymar is a billionaire, his net worth is valued at $200 million, making him one of the world's richest footballers. Neymar recently received a $203 million contract following his transfer from PSG to Manchester United.

6. Dave Whelan - $210 million

Who is the richest footballer in 2023?
Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan looks at the Charity Shield, during the photocall at the DW Stadium, Wigan. Photo: Martin Rickett
Source: Getty Images

Full name

David Whelan

Date of birth

24 November 1936

Age

86 years old (as of 2023)

Place of birth

Bradford, United Kingdom

How rich is Dave Whelan? The retired English soccer player's wealth is not only linked to his playing days at Crewe Alexandra and the Blackburn Rovers but also to his club, Wigan Athletic and the JJB Sports company. He has an estimated net worth of $210 million.

5. Lionel Messi - $400 million

world most richest footballer
Lionel Messi of Paris Saint-Germain looks on during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Toulouse FC at Parc des Princes in Paris, France. Photo: Catherine Steenkeste
Source: Getty Images

Full name

Lionel Andrés Messi

Date of birth

24 June 1987

Age

35 years old (as of 2023)

Place of birth

Rosario, Argentina

Current team

Paris Saint-Germain F.C

Position

Forward

Cars

Mansions and luxury homes in Holland Park, London, Cotswolds, England, Miami and Dubai

Houses

Mansions on Camp Nou and Castelldefels and Barcelona

Is Messi a billionaire? No, he is a millionaire. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Lionel Messi's net worth in 2023 is valued at a whopping $600 million. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner made his wealth through several football contracts with PSG, his clothing line, Messi Stores, endorsements and deals with Socios and Adidas.

4. David Beckham - $450 million

is messi a billionaire
David Beckham attends the Dior Homme Menswear Fall-Winter 2023-2024 show as part of Paris Fashion Week in Paris, France. Photo: Marc Piasecki
Source: Getty Images

Full name

David Robert Joseph Beckham

Place of birth

2 May 1975

Age

47 years old (as of 2023)

Date of birth

Whipps Cross University Hospital, London, United Kingdom

Cars

Land Rover Defender, Bentley, Audi RS6, Range Rover Sport, Cadillac, 1994 Volkswagen Golf, Porsche

Houses

Another world's most richest footballer is David Beckham, who has built an unbeatable brand that has brought him immense wealth. Beckham has endorsed many famous businesses throughout his career, including H&M, Adidas, L'Oreal, Tudor Watches, and Samsung & Breitling. His current net worth is $450 million.

3. Cristiano Ronaldo - $500 million

messi net worth
Cristiano Ronaldo of Al-Nassr poses for a photo with the MVP award after the Riyadh Season Cup football at the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo: Mohammed Saad
Source: Getty Images

Full name

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro

Date of birth

5 February 1985

Age

38 years old (as of 2023)

Place of birth

Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça, Funchal, Portugal

Current team

Al-Nassr FC

Position

Forward

Cars

Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce, Range Rover

Houses

Penthouse in New City and a home in Madrid, Spain

Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably the number 1 football player in the world. He is the third richest footballer in the world as of 2023, with a net worth of $500 million. He is one of the world's highest-paid players, earning an annual salary of $70 million.

2. Mathieu Flamini - $14 billion

ronaldo and messi who is the richest
Mathieu Flamini attends THE SPIRIT OF THE NBA Hennessy Launch Party in London, England. Photo: David M. Benett
Source: Getty Images

Full name

Mathieu Pierre Flamini

Date of birth

7 March 1984

Age

38 years old (as of 2023)

Place of birth

Marseille, France

Cars

Ferrari 458 Italia

Which soccer player is a billionaire? Mathieu Flamini is a billionaire with a net worth of $14 billion. He is a former Marseille, Arsenal and AC Milan midfielder who retired in 2016. After leaving football, he fully committed to GF Biochemicals, a sustainable biochemical company he co-founded in 2008.

1. Faiq Bolkiah - $20 billion

Who is the No 1 richest footballer in the world?
Faiq Jefri Bolkiah of Chonburi FC warms up before the Revo League Cup match at the 700th Anniversary Stadium in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Photo: Pakawich Damrongkiattisak
Source: Getty Images

Full name

Faiq Jefri Bolkiah

Date of birth

9 May 1998

Age

24 years old (as of 2023

Place of birth

Los Angeles, California, United States

Current team

Chonburi

Position

Midfielder

Who is the No 1 richest footballer in the world? The all-time richest footballer in the world is Brunei's prince, Faiq Bolkiah. The 24-year-old, as of 2023, has an estimated net worth of $20 billion.

He is related to the Bruneian Sultan and his uncle Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah is one of the richest Kings in the world and owns about 7000 cars.

Who are the top 20 richest footballers?

Below is a table of the richest footballers with their net worths.

Rank

Name

Net worth

1

Faiq Bolkiah

$20 billion

2

Mathieu Flamini

$14 billion

3

Cristiano Ronaldo

$500 million

4

David Beckham

$450 million

5

Lionel Messi

$400 million

6

Dave Whelan

$210 million

7

Neymar Jr

$200 million

8

Zlatan Ibrahimović

$190 million

9

Wayne Rooney

$170 million

10

Ronaldo Luís

$160 million

11

Kylian Mbappe

$150 million

12

Alexandre Pato

$145 million

13

Gareth Bale

$145 million

14

Paul Pogba

$125 million

15

Andres Iniesta

$120 million

16

Mesut Ozil

$120 million

17

Eden Hazard

$100 million

18

Samuel Eto

$95 million

19

Sergio Ramos

$80 million

20

Sergio Aguero

$80 million

Ronaldo and Messi: Who is the richest?

Ronaldo and Messi are two of the world's best footballers. When their net worths are compared, Ronaldo comes out on top with a net worth of $500 million, while Lionel Messi comes in second with a net worth of $400 million.

Football club contracts evidently cannot produce the richest footballer in the world. However, athletes who have supplemented their income in other fields can amass significant wealth.

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These schools scout high school players for their teams, carrying on a tradition of American basketball progression. Continue reading to find out which colleges have produced the most NBA players.

Authors
Ciku Njuguna photo
Ciku Njuguna
Ciku Njuguna is a journalist with 3 year’s experience in content creation based in Kenya. She currently covers sports personnel as well as team biographies.
Jackline Wangare photo
Jackline Wangare
Jackline Simwa is a content writer at Sports Brief covering sports and lifestyle topics. Previously, she worked at The Campanile by Kenyatta University and as a Content Creator (Briefly.co.za, Legit.ng, Tuko.co.ke, Yen.com.gh).