Cristiano Ronaldo has finally been named the first footballer in the world to have earned one billion dollars in his career, making him the first billionaire in any team sports in the world.
The Portuguese football icon joined boxing icon Floyd Mayweather and golf icon, Tiger Woods to become the first three athletes to earn a billion dollars while still active.
According to the recent publication of Forbes Business Magazine which contained a list of 2020 highest-paid celebrities in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo is the 4th highest-paid celebrity in the world behind Tennis icon Roger Federer, American rapper Kanye West, and American reality TV star, Kylie Jenner.
While his rival and Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi, who Forbes said earned $104 million, came in fifth; and Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar took seventh place with $95.5 million.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic that has affected every segment of business across the world, Ronaldo is said to have earned $105 million this year alone before tax. That is, £83 million. Hence, this year earnings had cumulatively brought his total career earning and total worth to over one billion dollars, that is, £789 million.
This is coming two months after Ronaldo and his Juventus teammates agreed to accept a four months pay cut due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the revenue of football clubs.
Earlier, Futballnews has reported that the impact of the pandemic on football would not stop Ronaldo from becoming the first billionaire footballer in the world.
In his 17 years of being a professional footballer, the 35-year-old former Real Madrid and Manchester United talisman is said to have earned a whopping $650 million, that is, £513 million. Within the 17 years of an epic football career, the Portuguese star has won over 29 major trophies, including six league titles, five UEFA Champions Leagues, one UEFA European Championship, and one UEFA Nations League. He has also won 5 Ballon d’Or and other numerous individual awards.
According to figures published by Gazzetta Dello Sport, the Juventus star takes home €31 million per year in wages (£28m/$34m) as a Juventus player. That is asides bonuses and other incentives. His gross earning at Juventus is said to be about $64 million per year.
Though Lionel Messi and Neymar earn more than Ronaldo in terms of club wages, no footballer is close to him in terms of endorsement earnings. He earns at least $47 million off the pitch from endorsements and sponsorship deals.
Aside from that, Ronaldo makes his own money as a businessman who has a chain of hotels in Portugal, CR7 fashion and lifestyle business, CR7 Museum and other business interests across the world.
