Cristiano Ronaldo Becomes Football’s First Billionaire as Al-Nassr Star Redefines Sporting Wealth
Cristiano Ronaldo has made history yet again not with a goal or a trophy this time, but with his bank balance. The Portuguese forward, currently starring for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, has officially become the first footballer ever to achieve billionaire status, according to a detailed analysis from Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index.
This milestone cements Ronaldo’s place in not only football history but the broader narrative of global sports finance. At age 40, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has achieved what no player before him could: a personal fortune estimated at $1.4 billion (approximately £1.04 billion).
Ronaldo’s path to billionaire status reflects more than two decades of dominance on the pitch and shrewd financial decisions off it. Bloomberg’s report reveals that Ronaldo earned over $550 million in salary from 2002 through 2023, playing for some of the world’s most storied clubs including Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus.
But it was his blockbuster move to Al-Nassr in 2022 that sent shockwaves through the sporting world and skyrocketed his earnings. The deal reportedly made him the highest-paid player in football history, with an annual salary of £177 million.
And that wasn’t the end of it. In 2025, Ronaldo extended his stay at Al-Nassr with a new deal said to be worth more than $400 million, keeping him at the Saudi club until at least age 42. That contract extension alone would be enough to secure financial comfort for multiple generations yet for Ronaldo, it simply adds to an already flourishing empire.
The CR7 Brand: Football’s Most Marketable Icon
Ronaldo’s wealth doesn’t stem solely from football salaries. Much of his fortune has been built through endorsements, personal business ventures and the power of the CR7 brand.
Among his most lucrative deals is a long-standing partnership with Nike, reportedly worth nearly $18 million annually. His endorsement portfolio also includes global giants like Clear Haircare, Herbalife, Binance, and TAG Heuer.
Beyond endorsements, Ronaldo has launched a successful line of businesses under the CR7 umbrella, including fragrance lines, fashion boutiques, and CR7-branded hotels in partnership with the Pestana Group. His social media presence boasting hundreds of millions of followers across platforms only adds to his value as a marketing powerhouse.
Messi vs Ronaldo: The Off-Pitch Scorecard
Inevitably, Ronaldo’s financial milestone brings renewed focus to his long-time rival Lionel Messi, who now plays for Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer (MLS). According to Bloomberg, Messi has accumulated over $600 million in pre-tax salary during his career. Since his move to the United States in 2023, Messi has been earning around $20 million annually, about one-tenth of Ronaldo’s reported earnings in the same period.
However, Messi is set to receive a stake in Inter Miami upon retirement a strategic move that mirrors Ronaldo’s long-term investment mindset. Yet, as of 2025, Ronaldo clearly leads in the wealth race between the two icons, with a personal brand that extends far beyond football.
The reaction to Ronaldo’s financial feat has been swift and celebratory. Fans and commentators alike have hailed the achievement as yet another record in a glittering career. One post on X (formerly Twitter) read, “From a boy in Madeira to football’s first billionaire. Cristiano is more than an athlete he’s an empire.”
Sports business analyst Pedro Silva offered further insight, stating,
“Cristiano Ronaldo is not just a player anymore. He’s a global institution. He monetised excellence in a way very few athletes have, and his move to Saudi Arabia expanded the map of football’s economic future.”
Ronaldo’s billionaire status isn’t just about personal wealth. It reflects a changing landscape in global sports where athlete branding, global endorsements, and cross-industry ventures play a critical role. His success story offers a blueprint for the next generation of African and global footballers who aspire to emulate his dual legacy of on-field greatness and off-field enterprise.
For Ghanaian players like Mohammed Kudus, who recently secured a high-profile move to West Ham United, or Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, who is being courted by top clubs worldwide, Ronaldo’s journey represents both inspiration and instruction.
This financial milestone may also serve as a watershed moment for the Saudi Pro League, which continues to invest heavily in attracting global talent. Ronaldo’s presence has helped the league gain international visibility, sign major broadcasting deals, and bring credibility to the project of making Saudi Arabia a new powerhouse in global football.
Legacy Beyond the Game
While Ronaldo is still active on the field and showing no signs of slowing down, his legacy has now extended into financial immortality. He’s not just the boy from Madeira who conquered Europe he is now the face of football’s financial revolution.
This milestone sets a new benchmark in the sport. Just as Pelé made football global, and George Weah brought African brilliance to Europe, Ronaldo has brought the game into boardrooms and billionaires’ clubs.
