Even though he is worth billions, Faiq Bolkiah would still rather be known for his football skill than anything else.
When you think of the wealthiest football players in the world, certain household names definitely come to mind. Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé — given how much professional footballers earn, there are actually plenty to choose from.
But one name that might not cross the mind, even amongst die-hard football fans, is Faiq Bolkiah. And yet, many media outlets have recently been calling him the richest football player.
Is he actually?
A player with status
The short answer is that yes, Faiq Bolkiah is the richest professional football player, as he is estimated to have a net worth of around $20 billion.
Comparatively, Lionel Messi’s net worth is around $600 million, Cristiano Ronaldo’s is around $500 million, and Kylian Mbappé’s is about $180 million — all fractions of what Bolkiah is worth.
But, the long answer shows different sides to the story.
Faiq Bulkiah’s father is Prince Jefri Bolkiah, the younger brother of the Sultan of Brunei. So while other footballers have gained their net worths from salaries, brand endorsements, and the like, Faiq’s is actually mainly connected to his familial background.
And because of this, he would actually prefer to not be known to the public as the “richest footballer in the world.” In 2018, some of his representatives shared with Bleacher Report that he technically isn’t the richest player.
In reality, Faiq wishes to be known simply as a young athlete trying to make a career in football.
Just a player
Faiq Bolkiah was born in the United States, and even with the option to play for the country, he chose to represent Brunei and was even the captain of their national team.
Growing up, it seems as though the young footballer truly saw his path going down the road of professional football. He spent years playing in multiple English youth academies, including those of Premier League clubs, Southampton, Chelsea, and Leicester City.
As a youth player, he eventually got his shot in the Premier League.
In 2020, Premier League club Leicester City signed him to join their team, however, the die-hard English football fans never got to see him play on the pitch. Following his short stint in England, he then went on to play for the Thai professional football club, Chonburi.
However, earlier this month following the conclusion of the 2022 to 2023 season of the Thai League 1, he announced that we would be leaving, after scoring two goals for the club.
Now, it has been reported that he is currently looking for a new club to play for.
With all the headlines about his wealth that have circulated in the past few years, it would be difficult for Faiq Bolkiah to rid himself of the reputation that his status comes with. But even so, to simply be a football player trying to make a career for himself, it will still come down to his skill rather than his status.
Credit to him, this is what he wants anyway, which already makes him just like any other footballer worth the mud on his boots.
Banner image from Faiq Bolkiah on Instagram.
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