Cristiano Ronaldo 'becomes first billionaire footballer'

Cristiano Ronaldo has go the archetypal billionaire footballer, according to a report.

The Al Nassr and Portugal striker's nett worthy has been estimated astatine $1.4bn (£1.04bn) by the latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

The valuation puts Ronaldo among a tiny radical of billionaire athletes including hoops greats Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and LeBron James, arsenic good arsenic golfer Tiger Woods and tennis subordinate Roger Federer.

Bloomberg said that betwixt 2002, erstwhile helium started his vocation astatine the Portuguese squad Sporting CP, to 2023, Ronaldo earned much than $550m (£410.4m) successful salary.

That was supplemented with a decade-long sponsorship by Nike, worthy adjacent to $18m (£13.4m) per year, and endorsements from brands similar Armani and Castrol, adding much than $175m (£130.6m) to his fortune.

After leaving Manchester United by communal consent, Ronaldo signed for Al Nassr successful 2023, and became the highest-paid subordinate successful past with a wage of astir $237.2m (£177m) - positive bonuses and a reported 15% stock successful the club

Still playing astatine 40 years old, Ronaldo has conscionable signed a caller declaration with the Saudi side, reportedly worthy much than $400m (£298.5m).

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With the World Cup adjacent year, Ronaldo shows nary motion of hanging up his boots, telling the Portugal Football Globes gala connected Tuesday: "I inactive person a passionateness for this.

"My household says it's clip to discontinue and they inquire maine wherefore I privation to people 1,000 goals if I've already scored 900-something. But I don't deliberation that mode inside.

"I'm inactive producing bully things, I'm helping my nine and the nationalist team. Why not continue? I americium definite that erstwhile I decorativeness I volition permission afloat due to the fact that I gave everything of myself.

"I cognize I don't person galore years near to play, but the fewer I person left, I person to bask them to the fullest."

Bloomberg besides reported that Inter Miami and Argentina's Lionel Messi earned much than $600m (£448m) successful wage passim his career, but did not find him to beryllium a billionaire similar his vocation rival.