World's Richest Footballer Faiq Bolkiah Released by Thai Club

Faiq Bolkiah, widely reported as the world's richest footballer, has been released by Thai League 1 club Ratchaburi F.C. The 28-year-old made just 18 appearances for the club over more than three years.

Bolkiah is the nephew of Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei, and his estimated net worth is reportedly £16 billion. This wealth has led to his designation as the wealthiest footballer, despite not being a direct heir to his uncle's fortune. For comparison, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have estimated fortunes of $1.1 billion and $1.2 billion, respectively, according to Forbes.

Born in the United States, Bolkiah's football career included academy stints at English clubs Southampton, Chelsea, and Leicester City, though he did not make any senior appearances in England. He later moved to Portuguese side CS Marítimo in 2020 but was released after less than a year, having played eight games for their youth and B teams.

In 2021, Bolkiah became the first Bruneian player signed to Thailand's top league when he joined Chonburi F.C. He transferred to Ratchaburi F.C. in June 2023. In total, he has made approximately fifty appearances in the Thai top division across nearly five years.

Bolkiah's uncle, Hassanal Bolkiah, has amassed his fortune primarily through Brunei's oil and natural gas reserves. Forbes named the Sultan the richest man in the world in 1997. The Brunei royal family controls a significant portion of the nation's economy, enabling the Sultan and Bolkiah's father, Jefri, to reportedly amass a collection of over seven thousand vehicles at its peak, stored in a heavily guarded compound.