Ronaldo Becomes Football’s First Billionaire (Full List)

Cristiano Ronaldo has reached another historic milestone, becoming the first footballer ever to achieve billionaire status.

The 40-year-old Portugal and Al-Nassr forward was listed on Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index with an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion (£1.045 billion).

The ranking combines Ronaldo’s decades of earnings, sponsorships, and investments. Reports show that between 2002 and 2023, he earned over $550 million (£410 million) in salaries alone. Beyond the pitch, his fortune has grown through high-value endorsement deals, most notably a decade-long contract with Nike worth nearly $18 million (£13.4 million) annually.

His wealth increased further after his move to Al-Nassr in 2022, where he signed a record-breaking deal as the highest-paid player in football history. His contract reportedly pays him £177 million per year, and with a two-year extension worth more than $400 million (£298 million), Ronaldo is set to remain in Saudi Arabia until after his 42nd birthday.

Lionel Messi, Ronaldo’s greatest rival, follows closely. Bloomberg estimates Messi’s career salary earnings at more than $600 million (£447 million), including $20 million (£15 million) annually since 2023—roughly a tenth of Ronaldo’s income over the same period.

Bloomberg’s latest wealth rankings for footballers are as follows:

1. Cristiano Ronaldo – £1.045bn

2. Lionel Messi – £620m

3. Neymar – £280m

4. Kylian Mbappe – £186m

5. Karim Benzema – £150m

6. Paul Pogba – £93m

7. Son Heung-min – £75m

8. Antoine Griezmann – £67m

9. Mohamed Salah – £66m

10. Robert Lewandowski – £63m

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