Portuguese national footballer Cristiano Ronaldo signed a deal with Al-Nassr earlier this year, making him sport’s first-ever billionaire player, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
The former Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Juventus star, who is currently nearing the end of his playing career, has always been among the highest paid football players, but it is his present position with the Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr that has propelled him onto the exclusive list of billionaire sportsmen.
With an annual salary of almost $200 million, Ronaldo became the highest-paid athlete in the history of the sports after joining the Saudi Pro League in January 2023, according to Saudi official media.
Besides, the 40-year-old reportedly inked a new two-year contract worth over $400 million in tax-free earnings with the Saudi outfit in June 2025. As part of the new deal, he also earned a 15 percent share in Al-Nassr.
According to Bloomberg, Ronaldo’s net worth has increased to $1.4 billion because of the contract. The Portuguese national’s earnings aren’t the only source of income that has caused his wealth to increase.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner inked a 10-year contract with Nike worth almost $18 million annually in addition to partnerships with companies like Armani and Castrol, increasing his net worth by over $175 million, the outlet said.
The forward has already hinted at club ownership as he gets closer to retirement age.
“If I can be a club owner, why would I be a manager, sporting director or CEO? This is my dream and I’m sure I’ll get there. I’ll even say more: I hope to not only have one club but to own several clubs,” said Ronaldo in an interview with television network Canal 11 in February this year.
“People, especially my family, say, ‘It’s time for you to stop. You’ve done everything. Why do you want to score a thousand goals?’ But I don’t think so. I think I’m still producing good things, I’m helping my club and the national team, and why not keep going?” he added.
“I’m sure that when I finish, I’ll be fulfilled, because I gave it my all. I know I don’t have many more years, but the few I have, I’ll try to enjoy to the fullest.
“I often say that if I could, I would only play football for the national team. I wouldn’t play for any other club because it (international football) is the culmination and the peak of a football player. It’s an honour for me to play for the national team. I’m sure the next games will go well and that we will qualify for the World Cup. Obviously, our goal is to go to the World Cup and win it, but we have to take everything step by step,” Ronaldo remarked.
Meanwhile, former Premier League rival and England player Joe Cole has urged Ronaldo to continue playing “at least into his mid-40s,” saying the Portugal superstar is “defying medical science.” He scored five goals in six games for Al-Nassr in all competitions to start the 2025–26 season on a good note.
The Portuguese national has smashed numerous records on his own since relocating to Saudi Arabia as a free agent in January 2023, but he has not yet achieved his goal of winning a significant trophy with Al-Nassr.