Move over, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi — the world's right footballer crown goes to 24-year-old Faiq Bolkiah who plays for Chonburi FC in the Thai first division.
As the nephew of Hassanal Bolkiah, the current Sultan of Brunei, Faiq's wealth is estimated at $20 billion. This makes him easily the richest footballer in the world.
Despite his immense wealth as a member of the Bruneian Royal Family, Faiq has pursued his passion for football by striving to make a name for himself in the sport.
Born in Los Angeles, Bolkiah spent his youth playing for several top-flight football clubs across England. In 2014, Faiq signed with Chelsea where he continued to develop his skills as a youth player.
In 2016, Faiq made the move to Leicester City, signing a three-year contract with the club. Although he never made a first-team appearance, he was an integral part of the club's development squad. After his contract with Leicester City expired, Faiq signed with Portuguese club Marítimo in September 2020.
Although eligible to play for the United States, Faiq chose to suit up for Brunei where he's recorded six caps to date.
Nowadays, Faiq plays his club football at the Thai outfit Chonburi. But even if his professional football career doesn't pan out, the 24-year-old has a vast fortune and a prominent royal family background to fall back on.
He also models on the side and has become a reputable Instagram influencer with 242,000 Instagram followers.
With royalty in his blood and talent in his feet, Faiq is proof that money isn't everything in sports, but it sure makes headlines.
