Cristiano Ronaldo is said to have become the world’s first ‘billionaire’ footballer thanks to his new Al-Nassr contract.
All-time great Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first footballer in the entire world to be named a ‘billionaire’ in the football landscape. Ronaldo reached the milestone after signing a new contract with Al-Nassr, the club he plays for in the Saudi Pro League. Although Ronaldo has always had to compete with Lionel Messi for the top name in the game, this is one aspect of the game where the Portuguese has now gained a significant lead. Messi and Ronaldo had similar earnings and brand value for most of their careers before the Portuguese decided to join the cash-rich Saudi Pro League in 2023, while Messi moved to Major League Soccer in the United States of America.
At the Saudi Pro League club, Ronaldo earns the highest average annual salary for an athlete. Since earnings in Saudi Arabia are also tax-free, Ronaldo should take home a fatter check than he would have earned at European clubs like Real Madrid or Manchester United.
Know about Cristiano Ronaldo’s earnings :
Putting together various sources of his net worth, Bloomberg claims that Ronaldo’s net worth has increased to USD 1.4 billion. The report claims that Ronaldo, now 40, earned more than USD 550 million in salary between 2002 and 2023 when he played football in Europe.
In terms of brand endorsements, the report states that Ronaldo earns $18 million annually from a decade-long Nike deal, and other endorsements with brands like Armani and Castrol add over $175 million to his net worth.
Since joining Al-Nassr in 2023, Ronaldo has earned around USD 200 million annually in tax-free salary and bonuses. The deal also included a signing bonus of USD 30 million.
The deal that put him over the billion-dollar mark was reportedly a contract extension that he signed with Al-Nassr in June 2025. The new contract is said to be worth over USD 400 million. He also acquired a 15% stake in Al-Nassr as part of the new deal.
With an unmatched social media presence (over 660 million Instagram followers), an impressive real estate portfolio, and multiple business investments, Ronaldo is poised to remain among the highest-paid athletes in the world long after his retirement.
