Former Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini has quietly become the richest ex-footballer in the world, with a multi-billion pound fortune that makes Cristiano Ronaldo's wealth look modest by comparison.
The 41-year-old, best known for his tireless performances under Arsène Wenger, now runs a biochemical company reportedly valued close to £20 billion, said to be 40 times the net worth of Cristiano Ronaldo, 40.
But Flamini insists the key to his remarkable rise from the pitch to the boardroom comes down to just three things: passion, dedication and resilience.
Speaking to The Times, he explained: 'When I said, as a five-year-old, "I want to be a footballer", people said, "Get your head right.