Not a big star in world football, but this player owns a huge fortune, to the point that even Ronald and Messi combined do not have as much money as him.
According to the Daily Express, when it comes to the richest football players in the world, fans often think of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. But in fact, neither of them are the richest.
Ronaldo could earn $200 million a year at Al Nassr (Saudi Arabia). Messi earns $32 million playing for Inter Miami (USA). But their fortunes are still far behind Faiq Bolkiah – a 25-year-old player from Brunei with an estimated net worth of £18 billion.
To put that into perspective, Messi’s fortune is estimated at £500m and Ronaldo’s at £400m. Together, they are still worth £17bn less than Faiq Bolkiah.
What’s special is that Faiq’s huge fortune does not come from his football career but from his background. Faiq is the nephew of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, head of Brunei, one of the richest royal families in the world.
Born in 1998 in Los Angeles, USA, Faiq holds dual citizenship of Brunei and the United States. However, he grew up and spent most of his childhood in England, where he began his football journey. After studying at Thorngrove Preparatory School, Faiq’s talent quickly caught the attention of major clubs.
He joined the Southampton academy in 2009, then had a trial at Arsenal in 2013 and returned to Southampton before signing a two-year contract with Chelsea’s youth team in 2014. Former teammates have commented that he is a humble player, passionate about football and has a playing style quite similar to Theo Walcott.
Faiq Bolkiah signed his first professional contract with Leicester City in 2015, but only played for the reserve team and did not make a single appearance for the first team. He then moved to Maritimo (Portugal) in 2020 and joined Chonburi FC in the Thai League in 2021. From 2023, he played for Ratchaburi on a salary of £2,300 a month, rejecting royal privileges to pursue his passion for football.
Faiq is also the captain of the Brunei national team. This striker is very passionate about football despite his royal background. He confided: “I have played football since I can remember, and I have always loved the feeling of being on the field.”
Faiq Bolkiah’s humility, passion for football and determination to pursue a career in the sport despite his wealthy background make him a unique case in the world of football. He is not only the richest footballer in the world but also a symbol of pure love for the king of sports.
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