What is Martin Braithwaite's Net Worth and Salary?
Martin Braithwaite is a professional footballer from Denmark, boasting a net worth of $50 million and an annual base salary of $6 million. Primarily a forward, he plays for both the Denmark national team and the Spanish club Barcelona. Braithwaite also has experience playing as a winger, including for Lionel Messi.
Early Life and Club Career Beginnings
Born in 1991 and of Guyanese descent on his father's side, Martin Braithwaite has a younger sister, Mathilde, who plays football for KoldingQ and Denmark's U-16 national team. At the age of five, he was diagnosed with a childhood hip disorder. Braithwaite began his football journey at the sports academy Sædding-Guldager Idrætsforening and later joined Esbjerg fB, the biggest club in his city. After a short stint at FC Midtjylland's sports academy, he returned to Esbjerg, signing a three-year youth contract in 2007. He debuted for Esbjerg in 2009, appearing in 63 Danish Superliga games and scoring 12 goals. His standout season came in 2012-2013, winning the Danish Cup and earning a call-up to the Danish national squad. While on international duty for an encounter against Poland, it was revealed that Braithwaite had been sold to the French club Toulouse FC.
Continued Club Career
In the summer of 2017, Braithwaite signed a four-year contract with EFL Championship club Middlesbrough. He made his league debut at the Molineux Stadium, where Middlesbrough was defeated by Wolverhampton Wanderers. In September, he scored his first goal for Middlesbrough in a 2-2 draw with Brentford. Early in 2018, he was loaned out to Bordeaux for the remainder of the season. Although he returned to Middlesbrough thereafter, Braithwaite was determined to play in Spain.
(Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
In January 2019, Braithwaite joined the Spanish club CD Leganés on loan. He debuted as a substitute for Guido Carrillo, leading to a win against SD Huesca. Four days later, he scored his first goal for the club in a home victory against Real Madrid, ending the season with four goals and 19 league appearances. In February 2020, FC Barcelona triggered Braithwaite's release clause and signed him to a four-and-a-half year contract. Shortly after, Braithwaite made his Barcelona debut in a home game against Eibar, assisting in two goals during a 5-0 victory. In June, he scored his first goal for Barcelona in a 4-0 win against RCD Mallorca. November saw more success with Braithwaite scoring his first two Champions League goals in a 4-0 victory over Dynamo Kyiv. In early 2021, he scored the decisive goal against Sevilla to secure Barcelona a spot in the Copa del Rey Final.
International Career
Complementing his club career, Braithwaite has made several international appearances. He played in a friendly against Georgia in 2013 and participated in the 2014 World Cup qualification match against Armenia. He scored his first international goal in a friendly against Poland. In 2018, Braithwaite was part of Denmark's 23-man squad for the FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Personal Life
Martin Braithwaite is married to Anne-Laure, a French journalist, entrepreneur, and television personality. They have two sons, and Braithwaite is also the stepfather to her two children from a previous relationship. Together, they own a clothing brand called Trente.
Braithwaite's entrepreneurial spirit extends beyond fashion. He is the nephew of American real estate developer Philip Michael, and together, they co-own a substantial real estate portfolio in New York and New Jersey, encompassing around 1,500 apartments with more in development. Their business is estimated to be worth about $250 million.
