Cristiano Ronaldo has entered the history books as the first billionaire in global football.
Cristiano Ronaldo officially joined the “Three Comma Club” after signing a massive new contract in Saudi Arabia. Ronaldo became part of Al Nassr in 2023 after leaving Manchester United, with a record-breaking deal worth £173 million per year.
Although there were rumors he might leave the Gulf region as his contract neared its end, the 1985-born superstar ultimately decided to extend his contract with an even higher salary than before.
According to Bloomberg, CR7 is set to earn around £492 million over the next two years, raising his total net worth to £1.045 billion, making Ronaldo the first billionaire footballer ever.
This figure puts him far ahead of his great rival Lionel Messi, who currently has a net worth of about £620 million. However, Bloomberg notes that Messi could close the gap in the future, as the Argentine star will receive a significant equity stake in Inter Miami after retirement.
Ronaldo’s enormous wealth comes not only from lucrative contracts with top clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus but also from numerous high-profile endorsement deals.
The Portuguese superstar has partnered with leading global brands such as Nike, Armani, Herbalife, Tag Heuer, as well as Clear Shampoo, DAZN, LiveScore, Panini, and previously KFC.
Additionally, Ronaldo continues to expand his personal brand empire CR7, with product lines ranging from perfumes and fashion to luxury underwear, generating substantial annual income.
The gap between Ronaldo and other players is currently huge, with Messi in second place holding assets nearly £400 million less. Neymar ranks third with £280 million, followed by Kylian Mbappe (£186 million) and Karim Benzema (£150 million).
The top 10 also includes stars like Paul Pogba, Son Heung-min, Antoine Griezmann, Mohamed Salah, and Robert Lewandowski, while Erling Haaland and Riyad Mahrez are closing in on this group.