All of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's success still doesn't make them the wealthiest footballers of their generation
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi battle for the ball
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are two of the greatest footballers ever(Image: Getty)
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Former France international Mathieu Flamini is worth more than 10 times as much as both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. World Cup 2026 stars Ronaldo and Messi are widely regarded as the two greatest players ever to step onto a football pitch.
With an astonishing 13 Ballon d'Ors between them, this summer represented the last chance for both to add to their already incredible trophy cabinets. While Ronaldo's Portugal were knocked out by Spain in the round of 16, Argentina-led Messi face the Iberian nation in Sunday's final after beating England in dramatic fashion.
Yet, their net worth pales in comparison to Flamini, a former midfielder who had a far lesser career. The ex-Arsenal star, who played 246 times for the Gunners across two separate spells, is worth over £10billion, according to Forbes.
Flamini managed just three caps for France before his retirement in 2019, which followed brief stints at Crystal Palace and Getafe. But his enormous riches came from his endeavours off the field rather than his 16 years on it as a professional.
The 42-year-old achieved billionaire status thanks to a decision he made shortly after leaving Arsenal for AC Milan, in which he established GF Biochemicals alongside Pasquale Granata to end chemical pollution.
The company produces a chemical identified then as one of the 12 molecules that could unlock a 'greener' future for the world. It sought to replace petrochemical ingredients with bio-based components in cosmetics, everyday cleaning products, paints and solvents.
The three-time FA Cup winner narrowly missed out on two Premier League titles, finishing as a runner-up in his first (2004/05) and last (2015/16) seasons with the Gunners. His three French caps came in 2007 and 2008.
Mathieu Flamini, the French ex-professional footballer who played for Marseille, Arsenal, AC Milan, Crystal Palace and Getafe but who is now a very successful green biochemical entrepreneur and eco-sustainability activist, poses for a portrait in the vegan restaurant Mildreds, Soho to promote the upcoming Green Football Weekend on February 2nd 2024 in London, England (Photo by Tom Jenkins/Getty Images)
Mathieu Flamini is one of the richest footballers ever(Image: Tom Jenkins, Getty Images)
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During his latter career and post-playing days, Flamini’s incredible transition from footballer to his ongoing venture in chemistry has attracted plenty of attention, and even more so given his eye-watering net worth. With ownership of more than half of the business, Flamini's wealth is valued at over £10bn.
In comparison, Forbes values Cristiano Ronaldo's wealth at between $1.2bn and $1.4bn (£1bn), meaning the Al-Nassr star is worth ten times less than Flamini, who he played against at the peak of the Manchester United-Arsenal rivalry.
Ronaldo became a billionaire in June 2025 as a result of a mammoth contract extension in Saudi Arabia. His new two-year deal was reportedly worth £492m, with additional bonuses and lifestyle perks - an increase over the first contract he signed back in December 2022.
The 41-year-old Portugal captain’s fortune comes from him having the most lucrative salary in sports history, a $1bn (£740m) lifetime Nike partnership, and a huge business empire that spans luxury hotels, fitness and high-growth tech investments.
FIFA Ballon d'Or nominee Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Real Madrid sits with FIFA Ballon d'Or nominee Lionel Messi of Argentina and Barcelona during the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2015 at the Kongresshaus on January 11, 2016 in Zurich, Switzerland.
Ronaldo and Messi's combined net worth is under £2billion(Image: Getty )
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His rival, Messi, is worth around $1.1bn (£815m) as of 2026, which is around 12 times less than Flamini’s. Messi’s riches come from his remarkable 23-year playing career, during which he has signed mammoth contracts at Barcelona, PSG and Inter Miami.
At the height of his powers, he was on a £492m deal spread across four years at Barcelona. The 39-year-old has earned an estimated $1.8bn (£1.33bn) on and off the field, with $900m (£666m) coming from his salaries.
The World Cup winner's lifetime Adidas relationship is one of the most lucrative deals in football. Messi has also earned significant money from other sponsors, image rights, global commercial partnerships, a large property portfolio, consumer products, restaurants and club ownership.
Yet, he would have to make 12-times the amount he is worth today to reach the level of wealth Flamini has achieved, despite the Frenchman not playing a single World Cup game across his entire career.