Cristiano Ronaldo Becomes Football’s First Billionaire with Record-Breaking Al Nassr Contract

Cristiano Ronaldo has officially become the first footballer in history to reach billionaire status — and it’s all thanks to his record-breaking contract with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr.

In 2023, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star made headlines with his unexpected move to the Middle East, signing a staggering £173 million-per-year deal. Since then, the terms of his contract have become even more lucrative.

Now 40 years old, Ronaldo is expected to earn around £492 million over the next two years alone. According to Bloomberg, his total net worth has soared to an estimated $1.4 billion (about £1.045 billion), officially making him football’s first billionaire.

Cristiano Ronaldo denies Saudi move was about money

Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia has faced criticism from some who claim he was motivated purely by money. However, the striker has consistently defended the league, saying it has the potential to rival some of the best in Europe.

After signing his new contract, he said: “Of course, we [the Saudi Pro League] are still improving but I believe that in this moment that we are in top five [leagues in the world ] already. I still believe that we will continue to improve, and we have time and we have shown in the last two years that the league is going up all the time.”

“I am happy because I know that the league is very competitive. Only the people who have never played in Saudi, they don’t understand nothing about football say this league is not top five [in the world].”

Despite continuing to perform at a high level, the veteran footballer has often faced questions about retirement. Responding to the speculation while accepting an award in Portugal, Ronaldo said, “I’ll be honest: I don’t see it as an obsession.”

Since joining Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo has been in incredible form, scoring 104 goals in just 117 appearances across all competitions.

Cover Credits - Goal.com