The richest footballer in the world is Faiq Bolkiah, a professional footballer who plays for the Brunei national team. He is estimated to have a net worth of $20 billion, largely due to his royal family lineage.
Bolkiah comes from a family of immense wealth, being a member of the Brunei royal family. This family wealth significantly contributes to his net worth, overshadowing his football earnings.
While other footballers like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have amassed substantial fortunes through their careers, their wealth pales in comparison to Bolkiah's inherited wealth.
While these two superstars have higher salaries and endorsements than Bolkiah, they haven't been able to accrue the same level of wealth due to their lack of substantial inherited fortunes.
It's important to note that the term "richest" can be subjective, as it can refer to different aspects of wealth, such as salary, endorsements, or total net worth.
Based on total net worth, Faiq Bolkiah is undoubtedly the richest footballer in the world. However, when considering salaries and endorsements, other players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi may be considered richer.