Richest Footballers in the World (Ranked 25 to 1)
Erling Haaland ($80 million)
Manchester City front-man Erling Haaland holds the 25th rank on this list of football players with the highest net worth, with the Norwegian striker being valued at $80 million. Erling Haaland has an annual salary of $38 million that he earns from the Premier League club, along with his additional earnings and endorsements that amount to around $62 million.
Antoine Griezmann ($90 million)
France international and Atletico Madrid icon Antoine Griezmann is nearing the dawn of his glorious playing career, during which he won the FIFA World Cup with his national side in 2018. Griezmann earns close to $195k per week through his contract at Madrid, alongside significant brand endorsement deals.
Mohamed Salah ($90 million)
One of the highest paid players in the Premier League right now, Liverpool's Mohamed Salah is often regarded as the best African player to have featured in the competition. Salah earns about $32 million from his contract with the Reds, as well as through partnership deals with brands like Adidas, Pepsi, Audi, Uber and Oppo.
Son Heung-Min ($100 million)
South Korean football star Son Heung-Min currently plays for MLS side LA Galaxy, after having spent over a decade at Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur. Son's weekly earnings are estimated to be approximately $1.5 million, which equates to an annual salary of $78 million, placing him among the highest paid athletes in the world.
Raul Gonzalez ($100 million)
Former Spanish international and Real Madrid legend Raul Gonzalez has an estimated net worth of $100 million, which primarily stems from his illustrious footballing career, including his time spent at Real Madrid. Post-retirement, Raul managed Real Madrid's reserve team, RM Castilla, while also being associated with various brands.
Philipp Lahm ($100 million)
Legendary German defender Philipp Lahn, who was the captain of the side that won the 2014 World Cup, has an estimated net worth of $100 million. Having spent most of his career at Bundesliga side Bayern Munich, following retirement, he transitioned into management and business, even becoming the tournament director of the UEFA Euro 2024.
Eden Hazard ($100 million)
While Belgian icon Eden Hazard's blockbuster move to Real Madrid from Chelsea in 2019 turned out to be a failure, he earned close to $22 million a year, until his retirement from football in 2023. Eden Hazard also earns a significant amount through his brand endorsement deals with Nike, Sina Sports and Lotus Bakeries.
Zinedine Zidane ($120 million)
French World Cup-winner and a legend of the game, Zinedine Zidane was among the highest-paid players during his time, through whopping salaries and endorsements. Zidane also earned a base salary of $14 million annually as Real Madrid manager, and has also invested his fortune in a padel sports complex in Aix-en-Provence in France.
Joe Mourinho ($120 million)
Not a footballer but a manager. A successful managerial career makes Jose Mourinho one of the very few coaches to be a part of this elite list of richest footballers. Apart from brand endorsement deals with brands like Adidas, Jaguar and Samsung, Mourinho earned over $93 million from managing clubs like Manchester United, Roma, Fenerbahce and Tottenham.
Mesut Ozil ($120 million)
German football legend and a midfield maestro, Mesut Ozil has an estimated net worth of $120 million, most of it earned through a successful playing career with clubs like Arsenal and Real Madrid. Having ventured into Turkish politics most recently, Ozil is also known for his philanthropy through the Zaatari Camp and Ramadan Aid.
Andres Iniesta ($120 million)
Spanish football legend and former Barcelona skipper Andres Iniesta spent 16 years playing at the Catalan club, where he earned over $5 million annually throughout his tenure. Apart from his brand endorsement deals with Nike, Asics and EA Sports, Iniesta also co-founded Maresyterey, a real estate and finance company with a revenue of over $25 million.
Paul Pogba ($125 million)
2018 World Cup-winner Paul Pogba has an estimated net worth of $125 millions, despite having remained out of action for a significant amount of time due to a doping ban. While he now plays fro French club Monaco, Pogba once earned a fortune through his stints at Manchester United and Juventus.
Alexandre Pato ($145 million)
Ex-Brazilian forward Alexandre Pato has a net worth of $145 million, most of it stems from his non-football ventures. Beyond the pitch, Pato has a diversified source of income, most of it coming from his fashion label, vodka brand, perfume line, real estate and restaurant chain in Brazil.
Gareth Bale ($145 million)
Former Welshman Gareth Bale has an estimated net worth of $145 million, and was one of the highest-paid players at Real Madrid at a time, having earned over $33 million annually in salary and bonuses. Also a social media influencer, Bale has endorsement deals with Adidas, Lucozade, BT Sport and EA Sports.
Ronaldo Nazario ($160 million)
The 11th spot on this list is occupied by Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazario, also known by fans across the world as 'R9'. Apart from his earnings through playing contracts with top clubs like Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC Milan, and Inter Milan, he currently owns La Liga club Real Valladolid as well as his boyhood side Cruzeiro.
Kylian Mbappe ($180 million)
Real Madrid forward and France international has an estimated net worth of $180 million, with annual earnings of $70 million coming from his salary with the Spanish giants, while $20 million from brand endorsements. Prior to joining Real Madrid, Mbappe was one of the highest-earners at former club PSG.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic ($190 million)
Former Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has an estimated net worth of $190 million, having earned over $160 million from earnings throughout his playing career. Zlatan Ibrahimovic also has had major brand endorsement deals with Nike, Volvo, H&M, Microsoft Xbox and Nivea, through which he earns $5-10 million annually.
Karim Benzema ($200 million)
Frenchman Karim Benzema, best known for his 2021 Ballon d'Or triumph, has an estimated net worth of $200 million. Benzema is among the highest-paid footballers in the world right now, drawing a massive $100 million salary from Saudi PL side Al-Itthad, alongside investments in real estate, lucary goods and business ventures.
Wayne Rooney ($216 million)
Ex-England footballer and Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney is another former player from England to occupy a spot on this elite list, with an estimated net worth of $216 million. Rooney holds long-term brand endorsement deals with Nike, Coca-Cola, Ford, and used to once earn close to £300k per week, at Manchester United.
Dave Whelan ($230 million)
A former English footballer-turned business magnate, Dave Whelan has an estimated net worth of $230 million, having made a major part of his fortune through his sporting goods company, JJB Sports. Whelan was the former owner of EFL League One side, Wigan Athletic, and had also served as chairman of the club for 20 years.
Neymar Jr. ($350 million)
Brazilian star Neymar Jr. remains one of the richest players from the football-loving nation, having spent most of his time playing in big clubs like Barcelona, PSG and Al-Hilal. Neymar has a net worth of $350 million, with most of his earnings coming from his deal with Santos FC, brand endorsement with Puma and real estate ownership.
David Beckham ($450 million)
Ex-England midfield legend David Beckham might have retired from playing long back, but remains one of the richest former players, with an estimated net worth of $450 million. Beckham co-owns two different football clubs, MLS side Inter Miami and English lower-division club Salford City, and earns more through brand endorsements and sale of image rights.
Lionel Messi ($650 million)
Argentinian captain and 2022 FIFA World Cup winner Lionel Messi, who is often regarded as the finest football player of all time, has an estimated net worth of $650 million. A major part of his annual earnings come from his $20 million-worth contract with MLS side Inter Miami, as well as endorsement deals with Adidas, Pepsi and Apple.
Cristiano Ronaldo ($800 million)
Portuguese football icon and one of the greatest players of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo is a distant second on this list, and has an estimated net worth of $800 million. Much of his earnings come from the salary that he receives while playing for Saudi PL side Al-Nassr, as well as brand endorsements for Nike, Binance, TAG Heuer and many others.
Faiq Bolkiah ($20 billion)
Former Brunei international Faiq Bolkiah can be described as the 'richest footballer in the world', with an estimated net worth of US$20 billion. A member of the royal family of Brunei, Faiq is the son of Prince Jefri Bolkiah and nephew of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, and has a massive royal family inheritance.
