The richest player in the world is not Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo has just made history by becoming the first footballer to reach a net worth of $1 billion.

Cristiano Ronaldo has made history by becoming the first footballer to reach a net worth of $1 billion , a milestone boosted by his blockbuster deal with Al-Nassr, which will see him earn a record $224 million a year. The Portuguese superstar has cemented his status as the most commercially successful athlete of his generation, with an influence that extends far beyond the pitch.

However, even that “huge” number is not the peak of wealth in the football world. The title of “richest player in the world ” belongs to a name that is rarely mentioned: Faiq Bolkiah, midfielder playing for Ratchaburi FC (Thailand) with an estimated fortune of about 20 billion USD .

For Ronaldo, his journey is a classic story of will and desire. Coming from a humble background in Madeira, Ronaldo rose to the top of world football thanks to natural talent and relentless hard work. The Portuguese superstar's fortune was accumulated through a series of contracts, advertising and investments, not inheritance.

In 2024, Forbes ranked Ronaldo among the most influential figures in global sports , both because of his decisive goals on the field and because of his ability to turn himself into a global brand. A lifetime contract with Nike, the CR7 hotel chain, underwear brands, perfumes, gyms... all have combined to form a "CR7 empire" worth billions of dollars.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Ronaldo is not only a footballer but also a natural businessman. The new contract in Saudi Arabia not only makes him the highest-paid footballer in history, but also speeds up the process of joining the "billionaire club" of the sports world.

Faiq Bolkiah doesn't need goals or endorsement deals to become rich.

Unlike Ronaldo, Faiq Bolkiah doesn't need goals or endorsement deals to become rich. Born into the Brunei royal family, he is the nephew of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah - one of the richest men in the world. Faiq's personal fortune is estimated at $20 billion , coming directly from the royal family.

Faiq has tried his hand at elite football, having trained at the youth academies of Chelsea and Leicester City. However, his professional career did not really take off. Currently, he chooses to play for Ratchaburi FC in the Thai League and plays for the Brunei national team.

Despite playing in a modest league, Faiq still maintains his passion for the game. With a financial potential far beyond that of any sports star, he could buy hundreds of professional clubs if he wanted to - but it seems that, for Faiq, football is simply a joy, not a way of life.

From two contrasting stories - one is the journey of building a billion-dollar empire through talent and business, the other is wealth from childhood - Ronaldo and Faiq Bolkiah show that: in football, the peak of fame and the peak of wealth sometimes do not go together, but each path leaves its own mark.

Source: https://znews.vn/cau-thu-giau-nhat-the-gioi-khong-phai-ronaldo-post1575418.html