There’s no doubting that the English Premier League and football finance has rocketed since the turn of the century, making some players the richest athletes on earth.
While many of the great footballers of the 1970s and 1980s are still viewed as the best ever, some of them are not the world’s richest due to the financial clout clubs can now offer in the modern day.
Like every athlete though, there comes a time when the boots must be hung up and a new career path taken - but how many of the footballing greats have managed to extend their wealth in retirement?
Here are the 10 richest former footballers in 2024 - according to CelebrityNetWorth.
5. Gareth Bale - $145 million
He has only recently retired but the Welsh megastar is still one of the richest ex-footballers on the planet with a reported net worth of $145 million. | Getty Images Photo: Getty Images
6. Thierry Henry - $130 million
Arsenal legend and Sky Sports pundit was one of the greatest Premier League players of all time. He has a reported net worth of $130 million. | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
7. Mesut Ozil - $120 million
Another former Arsenal favourite is this German superstar, who still has a reported net worth of $120 million despite his early retirement. | Arsenal FC via Getty Images
8. Zinedine Zidane - $120 million
The greatest French player of all-time and a World Cup legend. He has a reported net worth of $120 million. | Getty Images Photo: Getty Images