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Soccer-Ronaldo becomes football's first billionaire, says report
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on October 8, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Global Banking and Finance Review
Company
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on October 8, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Cristiano Ronaldo is the first footballer to reach billionaire status, with a net worth of $1.4 billion, thanks to contracts and endorsements.
(Reuters) -Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first footballer to reach billionaire status, according to the latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which has valued the Portugal great's net worth at an estimated $1.4 billion.
The 40-year-old striker's financial ascent comes after he signed a new contract with Saudi side Al-Nassr in June reportedly worth more than $400 million.
Bloomberg said that Ronaldo earned more than $550 million in salary between 2002 and 2023, supplemented by a decade-long Nike deal worth nearly $18 million annually, and lucrative endorsements with Armani, Castrol and others that added more than $175 million to his fortune.
Ronaldo's move to Al-Nassr from Manchester United in 2023 had already made him the highest-paid player in football history, with an annual salary of 177 million pounds ($237.52 million), plus bonuses and a reported 15% share in his Saudi Arabia club.
Argentina and Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has earned more than $600 million in pre-tax salary during his career.
Ronaldo's billionaire status places him among a rare group of athletes that includes basketball greats Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and LeBron James, golfer Tiger Woods and tennis player Roger Federer.
Ronaldo suggested he is not considering retirement any time soon.
"I still have a passion for this," he said at the Portugal Football Globes gala on Tuesday. "My family says it's time to quit and they ask me why I want to score 1000 goals if I've already scored 900-something. But I don't think that way inside.
"I'm still producing good things, I'm helping my club and the national team. Why not continue? I am sure that when I finish I will leave full because I gave everything of myself. I know I don't have many years left to play, but the few I have left, I have to enjoy them to the fullest."
($1 = 0.7452 pounds)
(Reporting by Lori EwingEditing by Christian Radnedge)
A billionaire is an individual whose net worth is equal to or exceeds one billion units of currency, typically measured in dollars. This status is often associated with significant wealth accumulation through various means, including investments and business ventures.
Endorsements are promotional agreements where a celebrity or public figure publicly supports a product or brand, often in exchange for compensation. This can significantly enhance a brand's visibility and credibility.
An annual salary is the total amount of money an employee earns in a year before taxes and deductions. It is typically expressed as a fixed amount paid regularly, such as monthly or biweekly.
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