Football, or soccer as it is known in the United States, is arguably the most followed game in the world. It is played in nearly every country in the world and has fans numbering in the hundreds of millions. The FIFA World Cup is by far one of the biggest international sporting events that take place in this game. But there is plenty of other football action that you can catch on affordable Cox wifi prices and plans like Cox TV Starter channels. There is the Champions League, UEFA, the Italian Serie A, the German Bundesliga, and the Spanish La Liga. That’s not to mention the Copa del Rey.
In simple words, football has a huge following all over the world. It has players, referees, and fans hailing from every corner of the world. In a game that is as big as football, top athletes are often treated like demigods. Their earnings are pretty godlike too. This blog explores 10 of the richest football players in the world, based on their net worth. See how many names you can recognize.
#10 Paul Pogba
French national superstar Paul Labile Pogba is one of the finest players on the national team. He also happens to play for one of the biggest clubs in the game, Manchester United. Born in March 1993, Pogba led the French Under 20 team to victory in the FIFA Under 20s World Cup. In the same tournament, he earned accolades as the best player on the field. Thanks to sponsorships from brands like Adidas, he features at number 10 on our list, with a net worth of approximately $85 million.
#9 Eden Hazard
Eden Michael Hazard is a Belgian-born player national who features prominently in the game. Hazard currently captains the Belgian national team, as well as being a key player for Real Madrid. Born in January 1991, Eden Hazard is currently the highest-paid player on the Real Madrid roster, with a 5-year contract ahead of him. Hazard also earns significantly from endorsements and sponsorships from brands such as Nike, Topps, and EA. With a net worth of approximately $100 million, he takes the number 9 spot on our list.
#8 Andres Iniesta
Spanish national team player Andres Iniesta takes the number 8 spot on the list with a net worth of around $120 million. Having had a successful stint at FC Barcelona, he has since moved on to Vissel Kobe. Iniesta earns handsomely from his Asics sponsorships and also owns a winery under the brand name Minuto 116.
#7 Gareth Bale
Welshman Gareth Bale comfortably takes the number 7 spot with an estimated net worth of around $125 million. Born in Cardiff, Wales, Bale plays for both the Welsh national team as well as Real Madrid. He currently holds the record for most international goals on the Welsh national team at 33. Bale also has a whole host of sponsorships from diverse brands including Konami, Adidas, and Nissan.
#6 Wayne Rooney
Englishman Wayne Rooney started his international football career at the tender age of 17. Since then, he hasn’t looked back. Rooney plays for the English national team, as well as for Derby County. However, he was part of the Manchester United roster at a time when the club looked almost unbeatable. He holds the record for most international goals scored on the England national team. Rooney has sponsorship deals with massive companies including EA, Coca-Cola, and Samsung. With a net worth estimated at $160 million, Rooney grabs onto the number 6 spot.
#5 Neymar Jr.
Brazilian sensation Neymar de Silva Santos Jr, better known as Neymar Jr, is one of the most talented yet controversial footballers playing today. He has had a remarkable career with both the Brazilian national team as well as FC Barcelona. However, in 2019, Neymar was accused of rape by a Brazilian woman. The charges were ultimately dropped due to lack of evidence, but it certainly stirred up a lot of negative publicity. With a net worth of $150 million thanks to sponsorship agreements with brands like MasterCard and McDonald’s, Neymar is a comfortable number 5 on our list.
#4 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a Swedish-born professional footballer who grabs the number 4 spot on our list. Popularly known as Zlatan, Ibrahimovic has made a name for himself both in terms of footballing talent as well as on-field and off-field controversies. Ibrahimovic is generally regarded as one of the best strikers of his era, with 540 goals and 34 trophies under his belt. He currently plays international football for Sweden and is also a familiar face in the AC Milan dressing room. Thanks to sponsorship contracts with Xbox and Nike, Ibrahimovic has an approximate net worth of #190 million.
#3 Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi is by far one of the most famous and recognizable names in football. Often referred to as the God of Football (a title formerly claimed by none other than Diego Maradona), the Argentine national plays international football for his country. He is also the most recognizable face on the FC Barcelona team lineup. Messi has sponsorships in place with huge brands like MasterCard, Huawei, and Adidas, leaving him with a staggering estimated net worth of $400 million. Nothing says big leagues like Lionel Messi! To get kinds of information like this, stay with the odreviews.
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo
If there’s one footballer who can stand up to the phenom that is Messi, it is a Portuguese national, Cristiano Ronaldo. Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably the best all-around footballer of his time, with legendary ball skills, stamina, and fitness. Having had a successful time at two huge clubs, Manchester United and Real Madrid, CR7 now plays for Juventus. He remains the first player to win the Champions League trophy 5 times. Ronaldo remains one of the most popular players in the world and has earned sponsorship deals from Altice, Nike, and DAZN. With an eye-watering net worth of $460 million approximately, CR7 bags the number 2 spot.
#1 Faiq Bolkiah
Wait! There’s a richer footballer than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? Yes, there is and his name is Faiq Bolkiah. Bolkiah has an estimated net worth exceeding $20 billion with a B. Incidentally, B is also the first letter in the name of his home country, Brunei. Bolkiah belongs to Brunei royalty, with his father Jefri Bolkiah and uncle Hassanal Bolkiah being the Prince and Sultan of Brunei respectively. Faiq is both an American and a Bruneian national. He plays for Leicester City and is also the captain of his country’s national team.
Football is indeed a great game, if not the greatest in the world. It even has a large fan following in the United States where the word football conjures up images of an entirely different sport. If you’re a football (soccer) fan in the United States living in a Cox coverage area like me, you could contact Cox Customer Support to find out what channels carry content from the sport you love. From Major League Soccer to the Champions League finals, never miss out on football action again.