By Kratika Agarwal
The heart of every football lover knows what the thrill of staring from behind the screen means—the moment their favourite team scores, what a proud feeling it is. PEAKLIFE knows what it is to have revised the names of your top 10 favourites on your fingertips, but when it comes to the scoreboard of money thrill to ace, that chart is a bit different in every player’s life, whether in life or in sports. From Cristiano Ronaldo to Kylian Mbappe, let’s have a look at the total earnings of each player who made it to the top ranking total earnings of 2024. Let’s get to the game!
1. Faiq Bolkiah
Estimated Earnings: $20 billion
Your answer to who is the #1 richest footballer in the world? Faiz Bolkian is a professional football player who plays for the Brunei national team, where he comes from a royal lineage. Faiq Bolkiah is a Bruneian professional footballer who currently plays as a winger for Chonburi F.C. in Thailand and the Brunei national team. A major part of his earnings come from the family legacy and the royalty.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
Estimated Total Earnings: $903 million
The Greatest Of All Time 39-year-old footballer is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world. Despite entering his 40s, he aims to continue his golden career, which is set to be good news for his fans around the world. Out of his total earnings, about $200 million are from the kicks that count on the field; the rest, $60 million, are his earnings from the brand sponsorships. Major impact on his earnings was done due to his recent move to South Arabia, playing for AI Nasser. Today Cristiano has 33 trophies under his name, which includes seven league titles, five UEFA Champions Leagues, the UEFA European Championship and the UEFA Nations League.
3. Lionel Messi
Estimated Earnings: $850 million
One of the most popular footballers in the international game scene. He is known for his legendary career that made a mark on the field. Because of his fame and glory in the hearts of football lovers, he has various books and films written on him. Messi has loads of lucrative partnerships, which includes one with the Caribbean, the most valuable jersey deal in MLS history. Beyond his sporting achievements, Messi holds the distinction of being the second-richest footballer worldwide, boasting an impressive net worth of $850 million.
A great chunk of his earnings also come from off-field sponsorships with Apple, Adidas and Konami.
4. David Beckham
Estimated Earnings: $450 million
The Retired Football player David Beckham’s personal net worth is estimated to be around $450 million. His two glorious decades of scoring for his teams made him millions, which made him football icon with the highest earnings. David Backham started playing at a very young age and continued till last year, when he announced his retirement. He also makes a bulk from endorsements from famous brands like Adidas, Armani, H&M, etc. He is an art enthusiast and also spends his earnings on luxury cars and real estate internationally.
5. Kylian Mbappe
Estimated Earnings: $180 million
Even if you are not a football fan, this might be the name your heart has revised a lot. Kylian Mbappé is a footballer from France who is known for his speed and goal-scoring skills as an attacker. He plays for France internationally and joined Real Madrid, CF recently. As per celebritynetworth.com, Kylian Mbappé’s net worth is estimated to be around $180 million. His wealth has been significantly boosted by his lucrative contracts with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), where he reportedly earns a base salary of $53 million per year following a contract extension signed in 2022. Mbappé also benefits from substantial endorsement deals with brands like Nike, Hublot, and EA Sports, adding millions to his income.
6. Neymar Jr.
Estimated Earnings: $250 million
Neymar Jr. is a prolific player who made his professional debut when he was just 17 years old. His stellar performance continued winning him various awards, but they were just the start. Neymar was also a part of the famous attacking trio consisting of Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and him, which was popular by the acronym MSN. His peers widely regarded him and fellow Brazilians as the greatest football player the country has ever produced. His notable achievements include winning two La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey trophies, and the UEFA Champions League in 2015 with Barcelona.
7. Lamine Yamal
Estimated Earnings: $5 million
Lamine Yamal is a Spanish professional footballer who has a net worth of $5 million. Noted for his speed, pace, and technical prowess, Yamal is considered to be one of the best young footballers in the world. Lamine’s vast majority of his current fortune comes from endorsements, primarily a deal with Adidas. Lamine Yamal plays for the La Liga club Barcelona and for the Spain national team. With Barcelona, he won the La Liga title in 2023, and with the Spain national team, he won Euro 2024.
8. Wayne Rooney
Estimated Earnings: $170 million
He is a retired football player known to have risen to heights after playing for Manchester United at a very young age. He is said to have earned the record of being England’s second-most-capped player in the world. Wayne also wrote an autobiography opening up to the world about his struggles and life. Rooney won 13 titles with Manchester United and one FIFA Club World Cup championship before retiring from playing in 2021. Currently, he is working as a head coach of Plymouth Argyle, an English football club in the EFL Championship.
9. Ronaldo Luis Nazario
Estimated Earnings: $160 million
Ronaldo Luis Nazario, also known as R9, is a retired Brazilian footballer and businessman who is considered one of the greatest players of all time. He was a key player in Brazil’s World Cup winning teams in 1994 and 2002 and won three FIFA Player of the Year awards. He also holds the record for being the youngest recipient of the Ballon d’Or award. Ronaldo has used his earnings to reinvest in football and support humanitarian causes. He has been a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador since 2000.
10. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Estimated Earnings: $190 million
Zlatan Ibrahimović is a Swedish former professional footballer known for his impressive skill, confidence, and charismatic personality. Throughout his career, Ibrahimović played for several top European clubs. His fame and popularity have attracted numerous endorsement deals with brands, such as Adidas, PlayStation, and Volvo. With over 560 goals to his name, he’s a prolific marksman who has consistently tormented defences across Europe.
Cover Credits: Instagram @cristiano
