The Ballon d’Or is a highly sought-after accolade in soccer, typically awarded to the best players in the world.
Presented by France Football magazine on an annual basis, it recognizes the best player of the previous season.
Throughout its nearly 70-year history, 64 players have claimed this prestigious award, often leading to substantial financial success.
Futballnews presents the highest-earning individuals on our Ballon d’Or rich list.
Cristiano Ronaldo – £363million
Cristiano Ronaldo, boasting an impressive 876 million social media followers, is not only the most popular athlete but also the highest-paid sportsman in the world.
With a staggering net worth estimated at £363 million, the Portuguese star has achieved the remarkable feat of winning the Ballon d’Or five times.
In December 2022, Ronaldo signed a lucrative two-and-a-half-year contract with Saudi Arabian team Al-Nassr, earning an annual salary of £62 million.
Additionally, the deal provides various commercial opportunities which could potentially see him earn up to £173 million every year if he remains with the team.
Moreover, the 38-year-old has secured a lifelong partnership with Nike since 2003, amounting to an astonishing £1 billion.
Alongside endorsing other brands, Ronaldo has established his business empire, which encompasses two hotels, underwear, CR7 blankets, facial fitness devices, and shampoo.
Lionel Messi – £105million
Lionel Messi has been awarded the prestigious Ballon d’Or a record of seven times.
It comes as no surprise that he is a frontrunner for the award yet again, considering his remarkable achievements.
Following his departure from notable clubs like Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, Messi made a significant move to David Beckham’s Inter Miami in June 2023.
He sealed a lucrative initial contract spanning two and a half years, reportedly earning him a staggering £35-£47million annually.
According to Forbes, Messi’s net worth stood at approximately £105million at the beginning of 2023.
Undoubtedly, his financial status has experienced a significant surge since joining Inter Miami.
In addition to his football salary, the 36-year-old benefits from a diverse portfolio of sponsorships and brand partnerships, further bolstering his earnings.
In 2017, he signed a lifetime contract valued at £20.4 million per year with Adidas, in addition to his role as a global ambassador for Pepsi.
Concerning his pursuits, Messi partnered with Ginny Hilfiger, a sister of Tommy Hilfiger, to launch his luxury clothing brand in 2019.
Furthermore, in 2017, he ventured into the hospitality industry by purchasing the MiM Sitges, a coastal resort near Barcelona, for £26 million.
Since then, MiM has expanded its presence with new establishments in Ibiza, Mallorca, Baqueira, and Sotogrande.
Kaka – £74million
The Brazilian legend was the last player to break Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi’s dominance over the trophy, which lasted for more than a decade.
The great football maestro, who is now 41 years old, secured the Ballon d’Or award in 2007, the same year he assisted the winning goal for Milan in the Champions League final against Liverpool.
Despite retiring in 2017, Kaka is still rumored to have a net worth of £74 million, partially due to his massive following on social media platforms.
The legendary footballer has also successfully secured lucrative partnerships with renowned companies like Global smart phone technology firm OPPO, American Tourister, and PlayStation.
Karim Benzema – £62.5million
Karim Benzema was awarded the Ballon d’Or in 2022 and has an estimated net worth of approximately £62 million.
During his time with the Spanish team, the French star allegedly earned £275,000 per week before departing the club in June after a prosperous 14-year spell.
Subsequently, Benzema secured a lucrative contract with Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad, receiving a remarkable £3.3 million per week.
He enjoys displaying his wealth, evident from his presence at last year’s awards ceremony wearing a striking Richard Mille watch valued at an astonishing £435,000.
Michael Owen – £54.4million
Michael Owen, who was awarded in 2001, reportedly possesses a fortune of £54.4 million.
The retired 43-year-old striker had a remarkable career playing for renowned clubs such as Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle United, Manchester United, and Stoke City before retiring in 2013.
Following his retirement, he has been working as a pundit for BT Sport.
Additionally, he is actively engaged in horse breeding and, along with his wife Louise, established Manor House Stables, a racehorse training facility in Cheshire.
Zinedine Zidane – £52million
In 1998, the renowned French star played a vital role in leading his team to World Cup victory. Following his tremendous efforts, he was also honored with the prestigious Ballon d’Or award that same year.
After concluding his successful career as a player, Zidane ventured into the world of football management.
He initially took charge of Real Madrid Castilla before eventually being promoted to the senior squad.
Although he initially announced his retirement in 2018, he made a surprising comeback after just 10 months. However, he once again departed in the summer of 2021.
During his tenure as Real Madrid’s manager, Zidane, who is now 51 years old, earned an annual salary of £2.3 million.
This figure doubled after he revived the team’s fortunes towards the end of the 2015/2016 season.
While Zidane is currently without a managerial position, his net worth reportedly stands at £52 million.
This substantial wealth is partially attributed to lucrative endorsement deals with prominent brands like Adidas, Louis Vuitton, and Christian Dior.
Luís Figo – £41million
Luís Figo won the Ballon d’Or in 2000 and made headlines with his controversial transfer from Barcelona to rival club Real Madrid.
This transfer set a world record fee of £50 million. During his five-year tenure at Real Madrid, Figo achieved great success, scoring 45 goals and assisting 58 others in 249 appearances.
His annual salary at the club was £3.74 million.
Currently, the 50-year-old Portuguese football icon is estimated to be worth around £41 million, according to Idol Net Worth.
Fabio Cannavaro – £36million
Fabio Cannavaro, renowned for his captaincy of Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning team and Ballon d’Or victory, is estimated to possess a fortune of £36 million.
Regarded as one of the most exceptional defenders in the sport’s history, Cannavaro concluded his professional playing career in 2011.
Currently, he has transitioned into the realm of football coaching. Cannavaro has decorated his portfolio with experiences coaching teams both in the Middle East and China.
In 2019, he briefly held the position of manager for the China national team, followed by his recent role as the head coach for Serie B club Benevento.
During his tenure in the Chinese Super League, Cannavaro garnered tremendous recognition by earning a staggering £10.6 million annually, securing his status as the highest paid manager in the league and the world’s fourth highest paid manager at that time.
Ronaldinho-Networth unclear
Former Brazilian football star Ronaldinho, who was honored with the Ballon d’Or in 2005, had lucrative endorsement deals with renowned companies such as Nike, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, EA Sports, and Danone.
Despite his past net worth reaching up to £80 million, the ex-World Cup champion has faced significant financial setbacks.
In 2018, the same year he retired from professional football, Ronaldinho was rumored to have a mere £5 in his bank account while having accumulated debts of up to £1.75 million.
This fiscal distress resulted in part from being fined heavily for unauthorized construction in a protected zone in his native Brazil.
Despite attempting to resolve his financial issues by remortgaging his property, the high interest rate made it impossible for him to fully settle his debts.
Consequently, a judge ordered the seizure of his passport.
Presently, Ronaldinho is working for the sponsorship and development company Nooke.
Additionally, he co-founded Footsider, an application that digitizes and streamlines the recruitment process in the world of football.
2023 Ballon d’Or award
The favorite to win the Ballon d’Or for the eighth time in his career is Lionel Messi, which would further extend his record.
Karim Benzema won the award last year, solidifying his status as one of the top center-forwards globally.
However, this year, he is not among the favored candidates.
The announcement of the Ballon d’Or recipient will occur at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris today, Monday, October 30.
The award ceremony is scheduled to start at around 6 p.m.
