Faiq Bolkiah, renowned as the wealthiest footballer on the planet, made a triumphant return to the football field, dazzling fans with a remarkable goal while representing his new club.
Born in Los Angeles, California, Bolkiah, aged 25, is part of the Sultan of Brunei‘s lineage, entitling him to a share of a colossal £20 billion fortune. His father, Prince Jefri, earned notoriety as the ‘Playboy Prince,’ having famously shelled out £17 million for Michael Jackson to perform at his extravagant 50th birthday celebration.
However, Bolkiah harbored dreams of carving his own path in the world of football from a young age. The Brunei national once honed his skills in the academies of English football after receiving his education at Berkshire’s Bradfield College.
This scion of the Brunei Royal Family initially plied his trade in the youth ranks of AFC Newbury’s non-league setup.
Despite spells at reputable clubs like Southampton, Chelsea, and Leicester City at the youth level, he never managed to secure a senior appearance in English football.
Bolkiah made a pivotal move in 2020 when he joined Maritimo’s B side in Portugal, where he featured in just three games before embarking on a senior career journey in Thailand with Chonburi.
Recently, Bolkiah made headlines by leaving Chonburi and joining Thai League 1 comrades Ratchaburi. His debut with the team was nothing short of spectacular.
Initially, Bolkiah started on the bench as Ratchaburi led 3-0 against Police Tero on a Saturday afternoon.
In the dying moments of the match, the dynamic winger etched his name on the scoresheet, sealing Ratchaburi’s resounding 6-1 victory with a truly remarkable goal.
Bolkiah, stationed on the left flank, artfully outmaneuvered a defender, venturing into the penalty box before deftly shifting the ball to his right.
Bolkiah’s Sensational Debut Goal
Creating an opening with sheer finesse, he unleashed a curling shot from the edge of the box, guiding it effortlessly into the top corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.
Bolkiah celebrated with unabated jubilation, vividly displaying his emotions upon netting his maiden goal for his newfound club, even though Ratchaburi had been dominating throughout the match.
This triumph against Police Tero marked Ratchaburi’s first victory of the season, following two draws and a pair of losses in their initial three league encounters.
Last season, Ratchaburi finished in 8th place within the 16-team league, while Bolkiah’s previous club, Chonburi, currently grapples with a winless start to the 2023/24 season.
