World’s richest footballer who was at Chelsea is worth 12 times more than Ronaldo and Messi combined

The wealthiest footballer in the world, who briefly played for Chelsea, possesses a fortune that is twelve times greater than the combined net worth of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

 

While Messi and Ronaldo have amassed considerable wealth during their legendary careers, their combined fortunes of approximately £1.32 billion pale in comparison to the astonishing £16 billion net worth of Faiq Bolkiah, a former Premier League academy player. Bolkiah, the nephew of the Sultan of Brunei, is among the heirs to a £200 billion family fortune. Despite his immense wealth, his footballing career never reached the heights of those of Messi and Ronaldo.

 

Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, has achieved unparalleled success, including eight Ballon d’Or awards, multiple league titles across Europe, Champions League victories, and a World Cup. His net worth is estimated at £680 million ($850 million). Similarly, Ronaldo, with five Ballon d’Or awards and numerous league titles, has built a net worth of £640 million ($800 million).

 

By contrast, Bolkiah’s career has been marked by struggles to break into top-tier football. Born in Los Angeles and holding both American and Bruneian citizenship, he started his career in Newbury before joining youth academies at Southampton, Chelsea, and Leicester City. Despite his efforts, he never made a senior team appearance. His professional career began with Portugal’s Marítimo in 2020, followed by stints at Thailand’s Chonburi and Ratchaburi clubs.

 

On the international stage, Bolkiah has represented Brunei, earning six caps and scoring one goal. Despite playing alongside notable talents like Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tammy Abraham during his time at Chelsea, his wealth often overshadowed his footballing pursuits, with teammates frequently teasing him about his immense fortune.

 

Though he never achieved fame in football, Bolkiah remains an intriguing figure, blending the worlds of unimaginable wealth and professional sport.