World’s Richest Footballer, £13bn Richer Than Messi and Ronaldo, Isn’t at the World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are appearing on football’s biggest stage in 2026, yet the player repeatedly called the world’s richest footballer is absent. Faiq Bolkiah’s reported fortune sits far above both superstars, although his wealth and sporting career come from very different sources.

The headline figure needs qualification. Bolkiah’s supposed £15bn net worth is a widely repeated estimate linked to Brunei’s royal family, not a publicly audited total showing money he personally earned or controls.