Cristiano Ronaldo: The First Billionaire Footballer
Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo has reached a historic milestone in his career, solidifying himself as the first footballer to surpass one billion dollars in net worth, according to recent data. This feat comes after his latest renewal with Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia, raising his fortune to $1.4 billion.
In addition to his salary income, Ronaldo has signed a ten-year contract with Nike, valued at around 18 million annually. He has also established agreements with brands such as Armani and Castrol, which have contributed more than 175 million to his wealth. His transfer to Al-Nassr in 2023 generated around 200 million annually tax-free, in addition to a signing bonus of 30 million. Off the field, Ronaldo also stands out in the digital realm, being the person with the most followers on Instagram, with 665 million. After his time at Manchester United, Cristiano joined Al-Nassr after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He is currently focused on the Portuguese national team for the qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. For Cristiano, this tournament represents a crucial opportunity, as he has not managed to win the World Cup in his five previous participations (Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022), although he has always scored at least one goal in each edition. If he participates in the Portuguese selection in 2026, he could become the first footballer to play in six World Cups, a feat that Leo Messi could also achieve with Argentina.Cristiano has earned more than 550 million dollars in salaries between 2002 and 2023.
Source: Recent Data
