Fans might be forgiven for believing either Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi is the wealthiest footballer in the world, but that would be incorrect! The player who reportedly holds that tag is just 25 years old and plays in Thailand. So, why does he have all that money?
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Having been involved in arguably the sport's greatest rivalry of all time, Ronaldo and Messi, through astonishing weekly wages and sponsorships for 15+ years, have both amassed incredible wealth. While Portugal's captain is said to be worth £500 million (R12 billion), his counterpart is believed to have a net worth of £471.5 million (R11.3 billion). It must be a nice life!
Messi, even at 36 years old, still earns a pretty penny playing for David Beckham's Inter Miami in the MLS, but his long-standing nemesis Ronaldo remains the world's highest-paid footballer in Saudi Arabia. The 38-year-old cut his ties with Europe in January last year when he completed a free-agent switch to Al Nassr, in a move that saw him become the face of the beautiful game in the Middle East. Ronaldo is said to be paid £148 million (R3.5 billion) a season in the Saudi Pro League, which is money well spent from the club considering the impressive numbers he continues to put up as he nears his forties.
His battle with Messi, a battle many supporters around the world still see as unfinished even after the Argentine lifted the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, elevated his and the former Barcelona No. 10's respective legacies in the game to untouchable, with a large percentage of football watchers strongly believing they will eventually retire having contributed more than any of those who came before them. Incredibly, though, there is a player plying his trade in Thailand who will hang up his boots one day being far richer than both of these footballing immortals, and his name is Faiq Bolkiah.
The 25-year-old currently represents Ratchaburi FC in the Thai Premier League, but he was, in fact, previously on the books of both Chelsea and Leicester City. Unfortunately, the winger didn't feature on a single occasion at senior level in England before leaving the country to join Portuguese side Maritimo. After only half a season in Portugal, Bolkiah decided taking his career to Thailand would be his best opportunity to secure game time, and he is getting some minutes, having scored two goals in 11 appearances so far this season.
But who is Bolkiah and how on earth is he considered wealthier than Ronaldo and Messi? Well, he is the nephew of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, and is said to be one of multiple heirs to a fortune of £200 billion (R4.7 trillion), while currently having a net worth of a whopping £15.7 billion (R376.3 billion).
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Described as humble by one of his former Chelsea academy teammates Ruben Sammut, it is admirable that Bolkiah is still knuckling down as he attempts to carve out his own path despite all he already has, but it's unlikely the Nike-sponsored athlete will become better known for his footballing ability than he is for his family ties.
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