Richest Soccer Players In The World 2024: Forbes is a company that writes about rich and famous people. They are based in New York and are experts on money and power. Today, we’ll talk about the most famous and richest soccer players in the world in 2024.
Being famous and rich are both important for a soccer player. If a player is more famous, they can earn more money because people like them more. This is because they can sell more products and make more money for themselves and others.
Soccer is a very popular and profitable sport all over the world. The best players in this sport are very wealthy because they earn a lot of money from sponsorships and transfer fees. However, who is the richest soccer player in the world in 2024 depends on how much money they make from their job, their total worth, and any endorsements they have.
Note
This list will show some of the richest soccer players in the world who made their money by playing soccer, getting endorsements, and doing other business activities.
Richest Soccer Players in the World 2024
In this article, we will talk about the soccer players who earn the most money, and richest among them.
20. Samuel Eto
| Net Worth: | $95 Million |
|---|---|
| Born: | March 10, 1981 |
| Height: | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Nationality: | Cameroonian |
Samuel Eto’o is a retired soccer player who played for 22 years and won many championships, including an Olympic gold medal. Despite his success, he also faced racism and derogatory comments during his career. He started playing for Real Madrid’s youth team at 16 and is now considered one of the greatest strikers ever.
Eto’o earned $95 million from playing soccer and sponsorship deals with companies. Some of the companies he endorsed include:
- Puma
- Ford
- Samsung
While playing for Barcelona, he earned a yearly salary of approximately €10 million, making him one of the highest-paid soccer players in the world. In addition to his salary, he received bonuses and other rewards for his performance.
Apart from soccer, Eto’o also invested in various business ventures. He owns a stake in a telecommunications company Set’ Mobile and has invested in real estate properties as well.
19. Philipp Lahm
| Net Worth: | $115 Million |
|---|---|
| Salary: | $10 Million + |
| Date of Birth: | November 11, 1983 |
| Height: | 1.70m. (5’ 7”) |
| Nationality: | German West, German |
Philipp Lahm is a retired soccer player from Germany who played as a defender and defensive midfielder. He played for the German national team until 2014. Lahm played in the World Cup in 2006 and 2010 and is known as one of the best German players ever. He was never given a red card despite being a defender.
Philipp Lahm is recognized for his leadership skills and football abilities and has a net worth of around $115 million. Lahm made a lot of money from his football career, including different contracts and sponsorships.
After he retired from football, he began investing in different businesses, such as a restaurant and a media company.
18. Mesut Ozil
| Net Worth: | $120 Million |
|---|---|
| Salary: | $10 Million + |
| Date of Birth: | October 15, 1988 |
| Height: | 1.82m. (5′ 11″) |
| Nationality: | German |
Mesut Ozil lives a luxurious life. He has expensive cars and a big house with six bedrooms in London. In 2020, he and his wife helped pay for 1,000 surgeries for children who couldn’t afford it after their child was born. His annual salary at Arsenal was around $24 million. However, he stopped playing for the German national team in 2018 due to racist insults. Ozil also enjoys playing video games and started M10 eSports in 2018.
Mesut Ozil has an estimated net worth of around $120 million, which he earned from his successful soccer career and sponsorships.
Ozil has worked with many companies, including:
- Adidas
- Mercedes-Benz
- Beats by Dre
- Cyrus Genève
- Adidas
During his time playing for Arsenal, Mesut Ozil earned a weekly salary of around £350,000. He also received bonuses for performing well and other rewards.
Aside from his successful soccer career, Ozil has invested in various businesses. He started a company “M10” that initially sold sportswear. Over time, the company expanded into the esports industry. Ozil also invested in some real estate properties in Turkey, where he currently resides.
17. Eden Hazard
| Net Worth: | $120 Million |
|---|---|
| Salary: | $8 Million + |
| Date of Birth: | January 7, 1991 |
| Height: | 1.75m. (5′ 9″) |
| Nationality: | Belgian |
Eden Hazard is a famous soccer player from Belgium and is one of the richest soccer players in the world in 2024. He began his career at OSC Lille and later played for Chelsea before joining Real Madrid for €100m and an annual salary of €15m. Although he earns a lot of money, Hazard is known for investing his wealth wisely, which has grown his fortune to an estimated $120 million.
Eden Hazard made this money from his successful soccer career and working with companies that sponsored him.
On October 10, 2023, just three months after leaving Madrid, Hazard declared his retirement from professional football at the age of 32, concluding his 16-year career.
Hazard has been sponsored by many companies around the world, including:
- Nike
- Topps
- Lotus Bakeries
- Electronic Arts
- Ice-Watch
- McDonald’s
- Sina Sports
During his time at his previous club, Eden Hazard earned a yearly salary of around €16 million, which was one of the highest salaries for a soccer player worldwide. He also got bonuses for performing well and other rewards.
To sum up, Eden Hazard’s net worth indicates that he had a successful soccer career and is a savvy entrepreneur. As he continues to explore new opportunities in both areas, he is likely to increase his wealth even further.
16. Zinedine Zidane
| Net Worth: | $125 Million |
|---|---|
| Salary: | $10 Million + |
| Date of Birth: | June 23, 1972 |
| Height: | 1.85m. (6′ 0″) |
| Nationality: | Algerian, French |
Zinedine Zidane is a famous soccer player and coach from France. He grew up playing soccer on the streets of Marseille, and when he was 14, a coach from the French Football Federation noticed him playing for a youth club. At 17, Zidane made his professional debut for Cannes. Later, in 2001, he signed a contract with Real Madrid for over $66 million. After retiring from playing, Zidane became a coach and led Real Madrid to win the Champions League three times in a row.
Zidane is considered one of the best football players ever and has a net worth of about $125 million. While he made millions during his playing career, much of his wealth comes from his successful coaching career, as well as his different business ventures and sponsorships.
Zidane has endorsements with many companies, including:
- Adidas
- Orange
- Christian Dior
- Audi
- Volvic.
Zidane Zidane Cars and Property:
Zidane owns many luxury cars in his fleet;
- Mercedes Maybach
- Mercedes G-Wagon
- Range Rover
- Audi RS3 Sportback
- Audi RS Q8
- Audi RS 6 Avant
He also owns a luxurious house in Madrid that is priced at $2.5 million.
15. Andres Iniesta
| Net Worth: | $125 Million |
|---|---|
| Salary: | $10 Million + |
| Date of Birth: | May 11, 1984 |
| Height: | 1.71m. (5′ 7″) |
| Nationality: | Spanish |
Andres Iniesta played soccer for a long time with Barcelona and then moved to Vissel Kobe for a salary of $30 million per year until 2024. He is still playing for Emirates and is highly respected, having won four Champions League titles with Barcelona and the 2010 World Cup with the Spanish national team. Even after suffering an injury in 2020, he continued to play in Japan because he loves the game so much.
Iniesta has said that he’ll only stop playing when he no longer feels the excitement of playing in front of a full stadium and sharing emotions with fans and teammates.
Andres Iniesta’s net worth is estimated to be around $125 million. He earned this money from his successful soccer career and by working with companies that sponsored him.
Iniesta has been sponsored by many companies, including:
- Nike
- Nissan
- Sony
- Audi
- Asics
- Asics
- Ariel
- Konami
- DAZN
- GeneLife
- UFX.com
- Arcos
- Estrella Damm
- Dormity
While playing for Barcelona, Iniesta reportedly earned around €20 million every year, in addition to performance-based bonuses and other rewards.
Iniesta has also invested in different business ventures aside from his soccer career. He has invested in several properties in Spain and Japan.
Some Other investments include:
- Iniesta Methodology
- Bodega Iniesta
14. Paul Pogba
| Net Worth: | $130 Million |
|---|---|
| Salary: | $10 Million + |
| Date of Birth: | March 15, 1993 |
| Height: | 1.91m. (6′ 3″) |
| Nationality: | French |
Paul Pogba earns $28 million a year from playing soccer and up to $10 million a year from companies that pay him to advertise their products. One of these companies is Adidas. Amazon Prime also made a documentary series about him called ‘The Pogmentary’, which tells the story of his career and why he left Manchester United. Pogba owns expensive properties in Miami and Cheshire too.
Paul Pogba’s net worth is estimated to be around $130 million. He has made this money from his successful career as a soccer player, as well as from various endorsements and sponsorships.
Pogba has deals with many companies, including;
- Adidas
- Pepsi
- EA Sports
- TCL
Paul Pogba returned to Manchester United in 2016 for a record-breaking transfer fee of £89 million, making him the most expensive soccer player in the world at the time. Since then, he has been earning a weekly salary of around £290,000, making him one of the highest-paid soccer players globally. He has also earned performance-based bonuses and other incentives during his career.
Apart from soccer, Pogba has invested in different business ventures. He is a co-owner of a gaming organization called Team Vitality and has partnered with Adidas to create his fashion brand.
On 29 February 2024, He was banned for four years by the Italian Anti-Doping National Tribunal because of doping. He can try to appeal this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
13. Alexandre Pato
| Net Worth: | $145 Million |
|---|---|
| Salary: | 1.56 million GBP (2016) |
| Date of Birth: | 2 September 1989 |
| Height: | 5′ 11″ (1.80 m) |
| Nationality: | Brazilian |
Alexandre Pato is a retired Brazilian soccer player known for his speed, skill, and ability to score goals. He played for some of the world’s top clubs, including AC Milan, Chelsea, and Sao Paulo.
Pato’s net worth is estimated to be around $145 million, which he earned through his successful soccer career and various sponsorships and endorsements. He has worked with several companies, such as:
- Nike
- Gillette
- Audi
- Cover Girl Cosmetics
During his time playing for AC Milan, Alexandre Pato earned a salary and bonuses totaling approximately €4 million per year.
Apart from his soccer career, Pato has invested in various business ventures. He is involved in a restaurant chain in Brazil and has also started his music label.
Some Other investments include:
- Fat Pato Burger
- Pato Branco Angels
- Pure Wonderpato
- With Love from Alexandre
- Alexandre Pato Seduction
12. Thierry Henry
| Net Worth: | $135 Million |
|---|---|
| Salary: | $10 Million + |
| Date of Birth: | August 17, 1977 |
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88m) |
| Nationality: | French |
Thierry Henry was a very talented soccer player who played for Arsenal, an English team, and helped them win seven awards. He was particularly skilled at scoring goals and won a record four Golden Boot awards. He also played for the French national team and helped them win two major tournaments in 1998 and 2000. His net worth is estimated to be around $135 million.
After retiring from playing soccer, Henry became a coach for different teams, including Monaco and Montreal Impact (now known as CF Montreal). However, he recently stepped down as coach of Montreal Impact.
During his playing career, Henry worked with various companies, including:
- Nike
- Reebok
- Puma
- Beats
- Gillette.
11. Gareth Bale
| Net Worth: | $150 Million |
|---|---|
| Salary: | $22 Million + |
| Date of Birth: | July 16, 1989 |
| Height: | 1.85 M (5′ 06”) |
| Nationality: | Welsh |
Gareth Bale is a successful soccer player who has won many championships with Real Madrid in Spain. He was born in Cardiff, Wales, and used to play defense but is now a striker and is known for being a top goal-scorer on the Welsh national team.
In 2024, Gareth Bale is estimated to be worth around $150 million, mostly from his soccer career and sponsorships.
Bale is sponsored by several companies, including:
- Nissan
- Konami
- EA Sports
- Foot Locker
- BT Sport
- Lucozade
In 2013, Gareth Bale transferred to Real Madrid for a record fee of €100 million, which made him one of the highest-paid soccer players in the world. In 2020, he returned to Tottenham Hotspur on loan and reportedly earned about £600,000 per week during his loan spell.
In addition to his soccer career, Bale has invested in various business ventures. He owns a real estate company in Wales and has established his own esports organization, Ellevens Esports.
10. Kylian Mbappe
| Net Worth: | $160 Million |
|---|---|
| Salary: | $15 Million + |
| Date of Birth: | December 20, 1998 |
| Height: | 1.78m. (5’ 10”) |
| Nationality: | French |
Kylian Mbappé is a really good soccer player from France who earns a lot of money. He gets $15 million every year from playing soccer, and he also gets $10 million from companies who want him to promote their products. He helped France win the 2018 FIFA World Cup and gave all of his $500,000 winnings to a charity that helps kids with disabilities play sports.
Kylian Mbappe has a lot of money, around $160 million, from playing soccer and promoting brands. Mbappe works with company Nike to promote their products.
He is famous because he helped France win the 2018 FIFA World Cup and also reach the final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He scored a hat trick in the final but unfortunately, they lost the final to Argentina.
His endorsement deals with companies such as:
- Nike
- Oakley
- Sorare
- Hublot
- EA Sports
Mbappe joined PSG in 2017 after playing for AS Monaco, and PSG paid €180 million to borrow him.
In addition to his soccer career, Mbappe has been involved in other ventures. He invested money in a French video game team, which shows that he has an interest in gaming. He also started a foundation to help underprivileged children in sports and education.
9. Ronaldo
| Net Worth: | $160 Million |
|---|---|
| Born: | September 18, 1976 |
| Height: | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Nationality: | Brazilian |
Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima is a famous soccer player who has won many awards, including FIFA Player of the Year three times and the Ballon d’Or twice. He started playing for a team called Cruzeiro in Brazil when he was just 17 years old and later played for Barcelona. He bought a team Real Valladolid in Spain in 2018 but had to retire from playing soccer in 2021 due to a knee injury.
As of 2024, Ronaldo has around $160 million in total money from his soccer career, business ventures, and advertising deals.
Some of the companies he works with include:
- Nike
- Emirates
- Herbalife
Ronaldo played for top soccer clubs such as FC Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and AC Milan, earning about €10 million each year. This made him one of the highest-paid soccer players in the world.
Apart from playing soccer, Ronaldo started a sports marketing agency 9ine. The agency supports many leading athletes and sports teams in Brazil.
8. Wayne Rooney
| Net Worth: | $180 Million |
|---|---|
| Salary: | $14 Million + |
| Date of Birth: | October 24, 1985 |
| Height: | 1.76m. (5′ 9″) |
| Nationality: | British |
Wayne Rooney is a former football player who played for D.C. United. He left the team in 2020 to become a player-manager for Derby County and then became their full-time coach after a year. However, in 2022, he returned to D.C. United as a manager, which resulted in a $25,000 fine for not following the diversity policy. Rooney has set several football records, including scoring the most goals for the England team and a Premier League club.
Wayne Rooney’s total net worth is around $180 million, which he earned from his successful career in football and other business ventures and advertisements.
Rooney collaborates with various companies, such as:
- Nike
- Samsung
- Harper Collins
- EA Sports
- Coca-Cola
Wayne Rooney plays for Manchester United and earns a huge amount of money around £250,000 per week. He was one of the highest-paid football players of his time.
In addition to football, Rooney started a company that produces TV shows and movies. The company has already made several documentaries and films. He also has his brand of perfumes and has invested in real estate projects.
7. Zlatan Ibrahimović
| Net Worth: | $190 Million |
|---|---|
| Salary: | $15 Million + |
| Date of Birth: | October 3, 1981 |
| Height: | 1.95m. (6′ 5″) |
| Nationality: | Swedish and Bosnian |
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a football player from Sweden who plays for AC Milan. He was the captain of the Swedish national team in 2012 and scored 62 goals in 116 games for his country. He has a statue of himself that is 8 feet and 9 inches tall at the stadium in Malmö, where he started his career. Even though Ibrahimovic can’t play now due to a knee injury, he still has a contract with Milan until June 30, 2023. In an interview with CNN in October 2022, he said that he enjoys playing football and doesn’t plan to retire anytime soon.
Ibrahimović announced his retirement on June 4, 2023, after AC Milan’s final Serie A game.
Zlatan Ibrahimović is estimated to have around $190 million in total money and assets.
He earns money from companies that work with him, such as:
- Nike
- Nivea
- Volvo
- Vitamin Well
- Microsoft Xbox
Besides playing soccer, Zlatan Ibrahimović invested money in starting a sportswear company A-Z Sportswear that sells sports clothes, and it has been successful.
He also invested in some companies, Ibrahimović Investments include,
- A-Z Sportswear
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic Parfums
- Hammarby IF
- Zlatan Legends
6. Neymar Jr
| Net Worth: | $200 Million |
|---|---|
| Salary: | $16 Million + |
| Date of Birth: | February 5, 1992 |
| Height: | 1.75m. (5′ 8′) |
| Nationality: | Brazilian |
Neymar Jr. is a famous football player who became one of the most expensive players in history after FC Barcelona paid a huge amount of money to transfer him to their team. However, he’s been involved in controversies like tax evasion and rape allegations, and some people don’t like that he supported a far-right ex-president during the elections.
Neymar earns a lot of money from playing football, about $16 million a year, plus an additional $20 to $40 million from companies like Nike and Volkswagen that pay him to promote their products.
As of 2023, Neymar Jr. has around $200 million in total money and assets, including the money he makes from playing football and promoting products for companies.
Neymar Jr works with big brands include:
- Puma
- Red Bull
- Turma da Mônica
- Fan the Flame Comics
- REPLAY Jeans
- GaGà Milano
- Diesel Fragrances
- Qatar Airways
- Qatar National Bank (QNB)
- DAZN
- Triller
- PokerStars
- Superdry
- NR Sports
- Epic Games
- Above Cosmetics
- KONAMI
- Digible
- Altice Portugal
In addition to playing soccer, Neymar Jr has started his own brand of perfumes Neymar Jr Fragrances. He has also invested money in new businesses and real estate projects in Brazil and other places.
5. David Beckham
| Net Worth: | $455 Million |
|---|---|
| Salary: | $35 Million + |
| Date of Birth: | May 2, 1975 |
| Height: | 1.8 M (5′ 9”) |
| Nationality: | English |
David Beckham is a famous football player from England. He is married to a singer and fashion designer Victoria Beckham. He was the captain of the England national football team from 2000 to 2006. In 2007, he signed a contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy that paid him a lot of money for five years.
David Beckham has a lot of money – about $455 million! Most of it comes from his soccer contracts and deals with famous brands like…
- Adidas
- Emporio Armani
- Kent And Curwen
- Sainsbury’s
- Jaguar
- Pepsi
- Samsung
- Maserati
- Tudor
- Haig Club
- H&M
- PepsiCo.
During his playing career, Beckham earned a high salary and remains one of the highest-paid retired athletes in the world.
He has also invested in various real estate projects, including;
- luxury homes in London
- Los Angeles
- Miami.
4. Lionel Messi
| Net Worth: | $620 Million |
|---|---|
| Salary: | $60 Million + |
| Date of Birth: | June 24, 1987 |
| Height: | 1.70 M (5′ 5”) |
| Nationality: | Argentine and Spanish |
Lionel Messi is a highly skilled football player who has achieved numerous awards throughout his career. He has won eight Ballon d’Or titles, seven FIFA World Player of the Year awards, 6 Golden Boots, and 2 Soccer World Cup Ballon d’Or. He was the first Argentine to be chosen for the Ballon d’Or Dream Team in 2020, which was a significant honor for him.
Messi has played for Argentina in many tournaments, including the World Cup and Copa América. In 2021, he played a vital role in Argentina’s victory over Brazil in the Copa América final at the Maracana Stadium. He also won the Fifa World Cup in 2022 held in Qatar and is considered the GOAT by many people. Due to his incredible skills, he has signed many sports and advertising contracts.
Messi’s net worth is approximately $620 million as of 2024, which he has earned from his soccer contracts, endorsements from prominent companies, and other business ventures.
Some of the companies he works with include big names like;
- Adidas
- Ooredoo
- Lay’s
- Gatorade
- Pepsi
- Jacob & Co.
- Budweiser
- Hard Rock International
- SIRIN LABS
- SikSilk
- LEAFTY
- Socios.com
- Mengniu
- Pro Evolution Soccer
- Orcam
- Messicirque
- Saudi Tourism Authority
- Mastercard
- BYJU’S
- Louis Vuitton
- J&T Express
Messi makes about €55 million every year for playing soccer at Inter Miami. Before that, he played most of his career at FC Barcelona. While he was there, he became the team’s top scorer of all time and won many championships in his home country.
Apart from soccer, Messi has started some businesses. He has The Messi Store and has put money into various building projects in Spain and other places.
3. Cristiano Ronaldo
| Net Worth: | $690 Million |
|---|---|
| Salary: | $62 Million + |
| Date of Birth: | February 5, 1985 |
| Height: | 1.87 M (6′ 2″) |
| Nationality: | Portuguese |
Cristiano Ronaldo is a professional soccer player who currently plays as a left winger or striker for Al-Nassr FC in the Saudi Professional League. He is also the captain and top scorer for the Portugal national team. Many people consider him one of the best and most complete soccer players in the world because he is excellent at scoring goals and playing well.
Ronaldo has won numerous awards, including five Ballon d’Ors, five FIFA World Player of the Year awards, and four Golden Boots. In 2020, he was recognized as the best player of the 21st century at the Globe Soccer Awards gala and was also named to the Ballon d’Or Dream Team. He has scored a total of 834 goals in his career, making him the highest-scoring professional soccer player ever. Ronaldo scored 450 goals while playing for Real Madrid, which is more than any other player. Currently, he has a net worth of $690 million.
Ronaldo earns this money from his soccer contracts, advertising deals with significant companies and other businesses he has established. Some of the companies he works with include;
- Nike
- Herbalife
- DAZN
- Clear
- MTG
- Altice Portugal
- Garena Free Fire
- American Tourister
- LiveScore
- TAG Heuer
- Louis Vuitton
- Jacob & Co
In addition to being a soccer player, Ronaldo has also ventured into entrepreneurship. He has established his perfume and fashion brands, invested in various real estate projects, and launched a chain of CR7 hotels.
Some of his investments include:
- Pestana CR7 Lifestyle Hotels
- 7EGEND
- Insparya
- CR7 Fragrances
- CR7 Fitness
- CR7 Footwear
- CR7 Underwear
- CR7 Denim
Ronaldo is one of the highest-paid soccer players globally, earning around £173 million every year from playing soccer. Before joining Al Nassr, he played for Real Madrid for a significant period, where he won numerous championships both within and outside of Spain. Ronaldo also became Real Madrid’s all-time top scorer during his time with the club.
2. Mathieu Flamini
| Net Worth: | $14 billion |
|---|---|
| Salary: | $10,961 (Weekly) |
| Date of Birth: | 7 March 1984 |
| Height: | 1.78 m (5′ 8″) |
| Nationality: | French |
Flamini is very wealthy, with a net worth of around $14 billion. He made a lot of money from playing soccer, where he earned millions of dollars. However, he also earned a lot of money from his businesses that concentrated on sustainable energy.
One of Flamini’s companies is GFBiochemicals, which he founded in 2013. They produce a levulinic acid chemical that can be used in many things like plastic and medicine. It’s also renewable. S2G Biochemicals acquired GFBiochemicals in 2020, which is also a company that makes sustainable chemicals.
Flamini has also worked with a Swiss company to develop a new type of solar technology. He believes it’s crucial to use green technology to combat climate change.
1. Faiq Bolkiah
| Net Worth: | $20 billion |
|---|---|
| Salary: | $2,900 (monthly) |
| Date of Birth: | 9 May 1998 |
| Height: | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) |
| Nationality: | Brunei Darussalam |
Faiq Bolkiah is a 23-year-old football player who was born in the United States but now plays for Brunei. He is very rich, with a fortune of over 20 billion dollars, but not because he is an exceptional player. His wealth comes from his family as he is one of 17 children of Prince Jefri Bolkiah, who is the brother of the Sultan of Brunei, Muda Hassanal Bolkiah. Faiq is also in line to become the next ruler of Brunei.
Despite his family’s wealth, Faiq has also had a successful soccer career. He started playing as a child at Southampton and later joined Chelsea’s academy, where he played with famous players like Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount. In 2016, he joined Leicester City and played his first game for the team in August 2018 in a League Cup match against Fleetwood Town.
In 2019, Faiq signed a contract with Marítimo and has been playing regularly for the team. He also represents Brunei’s national team and has scored numerous goals for his country.