According to Spanish outlet Estadio Deportivo, the world’s richest footballer is Faiq Jefri Bolkiah, the nephew of the Sultan of Brunei.

The richest footballer on the planet is neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo. Although both superstars continue to play in the United States and Saudi Arabia respectively on huge contracts, it is Faiq Jefri Bolkiah who holds the title of the world’s wealthiest player. However, after his contract with Thai club Ratchaburi FC expired, he is currently without a team.

Away from the spotlight of football, his sporting statistics are relatively modest. The player with the largest fortune in the game is winger Faiq Bolkiah, whose wealth comes from his family background. He is the nephew of Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei. Due to his position in the royal succession line, his personal fortune is estimated at around €20 billion, far exceeding the wealth of other football stars.

Born in Los Angeles while his father, Prince Jefri Bolkiah, was involved in a high-profile embezzlement case in the United States, Faiq dreamed of becoming a footballer from a young age. To pursue that ambition, he trained at several major English clubs’ academies, including Southampton (2009-2013), Chelsea (2014-2016), and Leicester City, where he also played in the UEFA Youth League (2016-2020). He also had trials with Arsenal and Stoke City while studying at the prestigious Bradfield College, where annual tuition fees exceeded €65,000.

However, he never came close to making a Premier League appearance. In 2020, he moved to Portugal to join Marítimo, but he failed to feature for the first team and only made brief appearances for the club’s U23 side. Meanwhile, at international level, he has represented Brunei six times, scoring one goal, and also participated in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games with the U23 national team.

Overall, his football career has fallen far short of the dream he had as a child, when he grew up surrounded by luxury mansions, supercars, and a private zoo containing tigers and leopards. His family’s wealth was built on Brunei’s oil reserves, while they also own hotels and properties in London, Paris, and New York.

Reports estimate that the family owns more than 7,000 cars and a Boeing 747 with gold-plated interiors, valued at around $620 million. In addition, the Sultan’s official residence, Istana Nurul Iman Palace, features 1,888 rooms, 290 bathrooms, and a banquet hall capable of hosting 5,000 guests. Faiq Bolkiah himself is known for his passion for watches and platinum accessories, as well as private hunting trips in the gardens of his estate. British media have reported that his monthly spending on hobbies exceeds £35 million.

However, those who worked with him during his younger years, when he was determined to become a professional footballer, have highlighted the effort he put into achieving that goal.

“He was a humble person who simply loved football,” said Ruben Samut, one of his former teammates from Chelsea’s academy who is now a scout.

Therefore, despite having no financial need to rely on football, Faiq Bolkiah has continued his pursuit of becoming a professional player across different countries. Where will his next chapter take him?