Former France international Mathieu Flamini is worth over £10 billion, making him more than 10 times as wealthy as Cristiano Ronaldo and 12 times as wealthy as Lionel Messi, according to Forbes. While Ronaldo and Messi are widely regarded as the two greatest footballers ever, with 13 Ballon d'Ors between them, their combined net worth falls short of Flamini's fortune.
Flamini's Wealth from Biochemical Venture
The 42-year-old former Arsenal and AC Milan midfielder achieved billionaire status through his off-field endeavours. Shortly after leaving Arsenal for AC Milan in 2008, Flamini co-founded GF Biochemicals with Pasquale Granata. The company produces a chemical identified as one of the 12 molecules that could unlock a 'greener' future, replacing petrochemical ingredients with bio-based components in cosmetics, cleaning products, paints, and solvents.
Flamini's net worth is valued at over £10 billion, with ownership of more than half the business. In comparison, Forbes values Ronaldo's wealth at between $1.2 billion and $1.4 billion (£1 billion), meaning the Al-Nassr star is worth ten times less than Flamini. Ronaldo became a billionaire in June 2025 after a mammoth contract extension in Saudi Arabia, reportedly worth £492 million over two years, plus bonuses and lifestyle perks.
Ronaldo and Messi's Fortunes
Ronaldo's fortune comes from the most lucrative salary in sports history, a $1 billion (£740 million) lifetime Nike partnership, and a business empire spanning luxury hotels, fitness, and tech investments. Messi is worth around $1.1 billion (£815 million) as of 2026, approximately 12 times less than Flamini. Messi's wealth stems from his 23-year playing career, including mammoth contracts at Barcelona, PSG, and Inter Miami, and a lifetime Adidas deal.
At his peak, Messi was on a £492 million deal spread across four years at Barcelona. He has earned an estimated $1.8 billion (£1.33 billion) on and off the field, with $900 million (£666 million) from salaries. Yet, despite his achievements, including winning the World Cup, Messi would need to make 12 times his current wealth to match Flamini.
Flamini's Football Career
Flamini managed just three caps for France before retiring in 2019, following brief stints at Crystal Palace and Getafe. He played 246 times for Arsenal across two spells, winning three FA Cups, but narrowly missed out on two Premier League titles, finishing as runner-up in 2004/05 and 2015/16. He never played a single World Cup game.
Flamini's transition from footballer to chemical entrepreneur has attracted attention, especially given his eye-watering net worth. His company, GF Biochemicals, aims to end chemical pollution by producing bio-based alternatives. The three-time FA Cup winner's wealth far surpasses that of Ronaldo and Messi, despite his lesser football career.
