Cristiano Ronaldo Becomes Football’s First Billionaire Player
Cristiano Ronaldo has made history by becoming the first footballer to reach billionaire status, according to financial data firm Bloomberg.
Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index, which tracks the wealth of the world’s richest people, has officially listed the 40-year-old Portuguese and Al-Nassr striker with an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion (£1.04 billion).
The report considered his long career earnings, sponsorship deals, and investments. Between 2002 and 2023, Ronaldo reportedly earned over $550 million (£410 million) in salaries alone, while his decade-long partnership with Nike has brought in nearly $18 million (£13.4 million) per year.
Ronaldo’s move to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia in 2022 made him the highest-paid footballer in history, with an annual salary of around £177 million. He has since extended his contract for two more years, a deal worth over $400 million (£298 million), keeping him at the club past his 42nd birthday.
In comparison, Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who has long been Ronaldo’s football rival, has earned more than $600 million (£447 million) in pre-tax salary throughout his career. However, this still falls short of Ronaldo’s record-breaking total wealth.
Messi currently earns about $20 million (£15 million) annually at Inter Miami and is expected to gain a stake in the club upon retirement, further expanding his fortune.
Ronaldo’s billionaire milestone marks another chapter in his extraordinary career, reinforcing his legacy not just as one of the greatest footballers of all time, but also as one of the most financially successful athletes in history.
