Whereas most individuals would suppose that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the world’s richest footballers, that isn’t the case.

That is although Ronaldo reportedly earns $200 million per yr at Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia and Messi $32 million at Inter Miami within the US.

However it’s Faiq Bolkiah, a 25-year-old footballer from Brunei, who holds the title of the world’s richest footballer with an enormous internet value of £18 billion.

To place that into perspective, Messi is value round £500 million and Ronaldo about £400 million – mixed, that’s nonetheless £17 billion lower than Bolkiah.

In contrast to Messi or Ronaldo, Bolkiah’s fortune doesn’t come from soccer alone. He’s the nephew of Hassanal Bolkiah, the present Sultan of Brunei, and a part of one of many wealthiest royal households on the planet.

The Sultan himself is value an estimated £22 billion, with the household proudly owning palaces, luxurious properties, and an eye-watering fleet of almost 600 Rolls-Royce automobiles.

Born in Los Angeles in 1998, Faiq has twin citizenship in Brunei and the US, however he spent his early years in England, the place he pursued soccer.

He attended Thorngrove Preparatory College close to Newbury and rapidly caught the attention of coaches along with his expertise on the pitch.

Faiq then left Newbury and joined Southampton’s academy in 2009. 4 years later, he tried out for Arsenal however rapidly returned to the Saints.

Former teammates described him as “fast, skillful, and humble,” and his taking part in fashion was much like Theo Walcott’s.

In 2014 Faiq joined Chelsea’s youth staff, impressing sufficient to earn a two-year contract.

Ruben Sammut, a former Chelsea academy participant, beforehand stated: “He was a shy man who skilled exhausting day-after-day. We joked about him being rich, however all of us knew how a lot he liked soccer.”

Faiq then went on to play for Leicester Metropolis, the place he signed his first skilled contract in 2015.

Although a part of the reserve staff for 3 years, he by no means made a senior look. He ultimately moved to Maritimo in Portugal in 2020 however later left by mutual settlement.

Faiq captained the Brunei nationwide staff on the worldwide stage and scored for his nation.

And, regardless of his wealth, soccer stays his true ardour. “I’ve performed soccer for so long as I can bear in mind, and I’ve all the time liked being on the pitch,” he as soon as stated.

In 2021, Faiq joined Chonburi FC within the Thai League earlier than shifting to Ratchaburi in 2023, the place he reportedly earns simply £2,300 per thirty days, having refused particular privileges resulting from his royal standing.