When it comes to comparing the world’s wealthiest footballers, it’s obvious to have your thoughts immediately flit to the likes of Barcelona star Lionel Messi, Neymar or Cristiano Ronaldo or perhaps simply a formidable player playing for a top-class European club.
Though in reality, the world’s richest footballer just so happens to be 22-year-old Leicester reserve player Faiq Bolkiah. The enigmatic youngster is worth an estimated £15 billion ($20bn) – blowing Ronaldo’s estimated net worth of between £200m and £250m out of the water.
Faiq is the son of Jefri Bolkiah, Prince of Brunei and nephew of Hassanal Bolkiah, the current Sultan of Brunei. He was born in Los Angeles and holds both Bruneian and American citizenship. He was educated in Great Britain at Bradfield College. Bolkiah has been described as “the richest footballer in the world”, with an estimated net worth of US$20 billion
Bolkiah has been playing his trade with the Foxes academy, having first signed a three-year professional contract in March 2016. Regarded as a talented midfielder, Bolkiah who was born in the Los Angeles and could have chosen to represent the U.S. national team but opted to play for Brunei – started his youth career at AFC Newbury.
In 2009, he joined Southampton’s esteemed youth set-up and stayed there for four years before making the move to Arsenal after the Gunners offered him a trial in 2013.
With the Gunners’ youth team, Bolkiah competed in the 2013 Lion City Cup and bagged a goal. It was with the Arsenal academy that he caught the attention of Chelsea, who offered the forward a two-year deal that he signed. After just one year with the Chelsea reserves where he presumably got frustrated with a lack of game time, he moved to Leicester on a three-year deal in 2016 – where he remains to his day.