Cristiano Ronaldo has reached an extraordinary milestone, becoming football's first billionaire with a net worth of £1.04billion, according to Bloomberg's Billionaire Index.
The 40-year-old Portuguese superstar's wealth has soared thanks to his remarkable Saudi Arabian contract, which will see him pocket an estimated £492million over the next two years.
Finance experts at Bloomberg calculated his fortune by examining his career earnings, investments and endorsement deals, adjusting for tax rates and market performance.
They noted that his astronomical earnings in Saudi Arabia have "catapulted him to the top of the rankings for highest-earning sportspeople".
Cristiano Ronaldo has reached an astonishing milestone becoming football's first billionaire with a net worth of £1.04bn, according to Bloomberg's Billionaire Index
|REUTERS
It's the first time Ronaldo has appeared in Bloomberg's index, and his wealth now far exceeds that of long-time rival Lionel Messi, who chose to move to Inter Miami in the United States.
At the heart of Ronaldo's fortune sits a lifetime Nike deal worth an astonishing £745million - by far his biggest commercial agreement.
He's also partnered with luxury brands including Tag Heuer, Armani, Louis Vuitton, Samsung and Unilever, among many others.
His last Al-Nassr contract paid him an incredible £167.9million annually, which works out to roughly £300 every minute.
The Portuguese forward also owns a stake in the Saudi club itself, further boosting his wealth.
Yet despite these eye-watering earnings, Ronaldo made a surprising confession on Tuesday evening while receiving the Globo Prestigio award in Portugal.
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"I often say if I could, I would play football only for the national team, I wouldn't play for any other club because it's the culmination and the peak of a football player," he admitted.
His employers at Al-Nassr might not be thrilled to hear their star player would rather be elsewhere, especially given his record-breaking wages.
Speaking at the FPF Arena Portugal in Oeiras, Ronaldo also expressed his deep passion for international football after 22 years with the national team.
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Cristiano Ronaldo spoke candidly when receiving the Globo Prestigio award in Portugal on Tuesday
|"I want to keep playing for a few years, not many, I have to be honest," he said.
"Obviously, our goal is to go to the World Cup and win, as we all want."
He's currently chasing 1,000 career goals, having reached 946, though he insists it's no longer an obsession.
The goals have not slowed down for Cristiano Ronaldo who is closing in on the milestone 1,000th
|REUTERS
"I'll be honest: I don't see it as an obsession. If you'd asked me 20 years ago, I might have answered differently, like I wanted to eat the world, but now I don't see things that way," he reflected.
Away from football, Ronaldo's living the ultimate luxury lifestyle with a £28m mansion being built in Quinta da Marinha, featuring a glass swimming pool with an underwater walkway.
He recently upgraded his private jet to a £61m Bombardier Global Express 6500, and his £18million car collection includes a limited-edition Bugatti Centodieci worth £8.5million.
Despite turning 40, Ronaldo's still delivering on the pitch with four goals in four games this season for Al-Nassr, having netted 104 times in 117 appearances since his move to the club in January 2023.