Top 10 Richest Football Players in the World in 2025 Ft. Cristiano Ronaldo

Football is recognised as the most popular sport in the world that is played in over 200 countries. We have seen several football players become the legends of the game, but not only do they earn the respect of the footballing world, football has created several millionaires.

With the game’s rising popularity across the world, there is a lot of money involved in this sport through business investment, brand endorsement, and player contracts. So have you ever wondered who the richest football player in the world will be in 2025? In our listicle today, we take a look at the top 10 richest football players in 2025.

While it is normal for many football fans to think of legendary footballers like Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi as the richest footballers in the world, if you think so, then you are wrong. At number one is someone whose name many might not have heard before. So stick with us.

Top 10 Richest Football Players in 2025

10. Ronaldo Nazário

At number 10 in the list is former Brazilian footballer and legend Ronaldo Nazário. He is ranked 10th with a net worth of $160 million. His earnings include those from his playing days with Real Madrid and the Brazil national team. His wealth is further bolstered thanks to his ownership of Spanish clubs Real Valladolid and Real Cruzeiro. He also has a wide range of brand endorsements and business ventures, which estimate his net worth at $160 million.

9. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was quite a popular footballer during his playing days due to his unmatched skills and his charm and bold personality. His current net worth is expected to be around $190 million after he earned some big salaries throughout his stints while playing for clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan. He had sponsorships from popular brands like Nike and Volvo, and his investment in real estate has kept his value growing. He also has his own beverage brand, Vitamin Well Upgrade, which also counts towards his net worth.

8. Karim Benzema

Former Real Madrid and France striker Karim Benzema is next on the list. His net worth is currently estimated at $200 million. His earnings mostly come from his playing career for Lyon and Real Madrid for more than a decade. Him winning the Ballon d’Or in 2022 further boosted his value. He is currently playing for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad for a significant wage, which contributes towards his $200 million valuation. The Frenchman has also made significant investment in real estate and endorses luxury watches.

7. Wayne Rooney

Next on the list is former England and Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney. The now retired United legend’s net worth is currently estimated at $216 million. Rooney’s earnings mostly come from his huge wages during his playing days for Everton, Manchester United and D.C. United in the United States. After retirement, he also worked as a manager for Derby County, D.C. United and Birmingham City. Nowadays, he is also working as a TV pundit and adds to his wealth through media deals and endorsements.

6. Kylian Mbappe

Another French forward who is making waves at Real Madrid is Kylian Mbappe. He is currently one of the world’s highest-paid footballers right now, which has his current net worth estimated at $300 million. He has a massive salary and bonuses in his contract with his current club, Real Madrid. He has also achieved lots of success as France captain, winning the FIFA World Cup in 2018. Other than that, he has sponsorship deals with Nike, Hublot and EA Sports. He is still a young footballer whose worth will continue to grow.

5. Neymar Jr.

At number 5 in the list is former FC Barcelona player and Brazil international forward Neymar Jr. In his playing career spanning across Barcelona, PSG and Al-Hilal, he has earned a huge salary. He also has sponsorship and brand endorsement deals with the likes of Nike and Red Bull and has several off-field investments that estimate the magician’s net worth at $350 million.

4. David Beckham

Former England international midfielder David Beckham might have retired from playing professional cricket, yet he is still one of the richest players in the world. His net worth is currently believed to be around $500 million. Beckham earned big cheques while playing for the likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid during his career. Even after retirement, his net worth continued to grow. He has huge investment deals with the likes of Adidas, Armani and others. He also owns business ventures in fashion and whisky brands. But most importantly, he is also the co-owner of the Inter Miami club, which plays in the Major League Soccer (MLS).

3. Lionel Messi

Who doesn’t know former FC Barcelona player and Argentina’s 2022 FIFA World Cup-winning captain Lionel Messi? The Argentine’s net worth is currently estimated at $850 million. Throughout his career playing for the likes of Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, Messi has earned a significant salary. He continues to make lots of money while playing for David Beckham’s Inter Miami. He also has a share of MLS’ streaming deal with Apple TV. Other than that, he has various sponsorship and brand endorsement deals with the likes of Adidas, Pepsi, and Lay’s. He also has significant investment in real estate and clothing ventures, which keeps his net worth growing.

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2. Cristiano Ronaldo

Portugal’s legendary footballer Cristiano Ronaldo recently had his net worth touch $1 billion, making him one of the richest football players in the world. Ronaldo played for big clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus and earned hefty cheques. He is currently playing for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr, where he is earning well over $1 million per week. He has lifetime sponsorship deals with Nike and various other endorsements. His own CR7 brand adds to his value. Other than that, Ronaldo’s social media influence plays a big role, as it brings lots of money with sponsored posts.

1. Faiq Bolkiah

It is not Ronaldo nor Messi, but Faiq Bolkiah is the richest football player in the world in 2025. Now it’s not a name many football fans know about. Bolkiah is a Brunei international footballer who plays for Thai League club Ratchaburi. He is an average footballer but has a net worth of $20 billion. However, most of his money doesn’t come from football; in fact, he is a member of Brunei’s royal family. He is the son of Prince Jefri Bolkiah and the nephew of Hassanal Bolkiah.