As of 2021, there are no soccer players who are billionaires. While some may have a net worth approaching or exceeding a billion dollars, the sheer amount of money required to reach billionaire status is currently beyond the financial means of any soccer player.
One of the most high-profile and wealthiest soccer players is Lionel Messi, who has a net worth of approximately $400 million according to Forbes. However, despite being one of the highest-paid athletes in the world, with an annual salary of over $90 million, Messi falls far short of the billionaire mark.
Similarly, Cristiano Ronaldo, another soccer superstar, is estimated to have a net worth of around $500 million. While this is an impressive amount, and Ronaldo is considered one of the wealthiest athletes in the world, he is also not a billionaire.
In fact, to date, the only soccer-related billionaire is not a player, but rather the owner of an English Premier League team. Roman Abramovich, owner of Chelsea Football Club, has a net worth of over $12 billion, making him one of the richest people in the world. However, this wealth derives from his extensive business interests rather than his involvement in soccer directly.
There are several reasons why no soccer player has yet reached billionaire status. Firstly, while top players may earn huge salaries and endorsement deals, soccer is still not as lucrative as many other sports when it comes to prize money and other earnings. For example, Formula 1 drivers and golfers can earn multi-million-dollar payouts for winning a single tournament, while no soccer player has ever earned more than $100 million in a single year.
Additionally, soccer players’ earnings are often subject to taxes, agents’ fees, and other expenses that can eat into their total net worth. While players like Messi and Ronaldo may earn hundreds of millions of dollars in their careers, a significant portion of that money will be spent on living expenses, investments, and other financial obligations.
Ultimately, the lack of billionaire soccer players is reflective of the wider disparities that exist within the global economy. While individual players can earn vast sums of money, the wealth gap between the richest and poorest individuals and communities remains vast. While some may dream of becoming a billionaire soccer player, the reality is that this remains an unlikely achievement for the foreseeable future.
