Cristiano Ronaldo Becomes Football’s First Billionaire

From the streets of Madeira to becoming one of the best footballers in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo has come a long way. A career which is already engraved in the historic books of modern sport now marks another breakthrough. A player always known for his records and numbers on the field now makes headlines for numbers in his bank. The Portuguese captain has reached an extraordinary milestone that no other footballer has come close to. He is now the first active player in the sport’s history to enter the billionaire club.

Ronaldo’s staggering wealth has earned him a spot on the Bloomberg Billionaire Index, a list that tracks the world’s richest individuals. This ranking is calculated by financial experts who consider everything from salaries and investments to business ventures and real estate. The list is regularly updated to reflect changes in people’s fortunes. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was already the highest-paid player in football, but his move to Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr has skyrocketed him into the billionaire ranks. Earlier this year, he signed a game-changing contract extension with Al Nassr, rumored to be worth over $400 million.

Ronaldo’s net worth has reached $1.4 billion, according to the Bloomberg Index. Between 2002 and 2023, he earned over $550 million in salary. Alongside that, his endorsement income includes a long-term deal with Nike that brings him nearly $18 million annually. Apart from this, Ronaldo has expanded his wealth through a worldwide property portfolio and investments in various businesses across Portugal, Spain, and beyond. While Ronaldo and Lionel Messi once earned similar salaries, their paths diverged in 2023 as Ronaldo moved to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, while Messi joined Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. According to Bloomberg, the Inter Miami forward has racked up over $600 million in pre-tax earnings over his career. Since 2023, his guaranteed annual salary has been around $20 million, roughly a tenth of what Ronaldo has reportedly made over the same period.

In February, Ronaldo stated that he had no interest in moving into coaching once his playing career is over. He added that if he could own a club, there would be no reason for him to become a manager, sporting director, or CEO, and that owning a club was his dream. He also expressed hope of owning not just one, but several clubs.