Cristiano Ronaldo, not just a renowned footballer but one of the most famous athletes across various sports, started his journey to greatness from humble beginnings. Raised in a working-class family comprising his father, who worked with a local football team, his mother, who did cooking and cleaning jobs, and three siblings, Ronaldo showed early promise in football. At the age of 12, he moved to Lisbon to pursue his dream of becoming a professional footballer.
Despite facing challenges such as financial struggles, Ronaldo’s determination and talent propelled him forward. He joined Sporting Lisbon’s youth academy, where his skills quickly caught the attention of scouts. At just 16, he made his professional debut for Sporting Lisbon’s first team and impressed one and all.
Ronaldo’s rise to stardom continued when he caught the eye of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who signed him in 2003. During his time at Manchester United, Ronaldo flourished, winning numerous titles including three English Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League. After winning both the Ballon D’Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2008, Ronaldo joined Real Madrid for a record-breaking $80 million. He went on to win many cups and awards with them. In 2016, he became Real Madrid’s top scorer ever. From there on, Ronaldo went on to become one of the world’s most influential sportspersons. Winner of five Ballon d’Or awards, three UEFA Men’s Player of the Year Awards, and four European Golden Shoes, Ronaldo is one of the richest athletes of any sport.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Success
His success on the field, coupled with his marketability and charisma, paved the way for lucrative endorsement deals and sponsorships. He is the most followed person on Instagram with a whopping 668 million followers as of February 2024. What that also means is that he is among the highest-paid social media celebrities. Reportedly, he commands a whopping Rs 19 crore for each sponsored post on Instagram. Ronaldo endorses several brands including Herbalife, Tag Heuer, Clear shampoo and Nike. He has a lifetime deal with Nike. Ronaldo also has his own brand, CR7, which is worth over 100 million euros. CR7 offers different items like clothes, glasses, and perfumes.
In the year 2020, Ronaldo achieved a historic off-field milestone by becoming the first-ever active team-sport athlete to exceed $1 billion in lifetime earnings. He has made multiple appearances at the top of Forbes’ ranking of the world’s highest-earning athletes, including in 2023, when he minted a staggering $46 million from his on-field exploits, and $90 million through various off-field ventures.
A five-time FIFA player of the year, Ronaldo pocketed $630,000 per week while playing for Manchester United during the 2020/21 season. This made him the highest-paid player in the English Premier League at the time. He is also being paid around $213 million a year by Al Nassr. According to various reports, Ronaldo has a massive net worth of around $500 million.
He owns several properties across the world, the most expensive of which is a villa in Spain worth a whopping $1.5 million. Ronaldo possesses a collection of the world’s most expensive cars, including the Bugatti La Voiture Noire, valued at approximately Rs 75 crore in Indian currency. This, though, isn’t his first Bugatti. Ronaldo also owns a Bugatti Veyron and an array of other luxurious cars like Audis, Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Rolls Royce, Bentleys and Aston Martin.
He also owns a long list of luxury watches from brands like Rolex, Hublot, Richard Mille, Bulgari, Jacob & Co., and Patek Philippe. Not to forget, he also owns private jets and yachts, which you can see on his Instagram account.
Cristiano Ronaldo Football Salary: On-Field Earnings
Club | Duration | Estimated Salary per Year |
---|---|---|
Sporting CP | 2002-2003 | $1.12 million |
Manchester United | 2003-2009 | $10 million- $15 million |
Real Madrid | 2009-2018 | $28.35 million- $41.85 million |
Juventus | 2018-2021 | $35.4 million- $40.12 million |
Manchester United (Second Stint) | 2021-2022 | $37.51 million- $41.14 million |
Cristiano Ronaldo Net Worth Through Endorsements
Ronaldo’s earning through endorsements –
Brand | Category | Estimated Value |
---|---|---|
Nike | Sportswear | $20 million – $25 million |
Herbalife | Nutrition | $20 million – $25 million |
DAZN | Streaming Platform | $15 million |
Altice | Telecommunications | $10 million |
Clear Hair | Hair Care | $8 million |
Emirates | Airline | $7 million |
Pestana CR7 Hotels | Hospitality | $200 million |
CR7 Planet Fashion Line | Clothing | $100 million |
Legacy Fragrance Brand | Perfume | $80 million |
Gestifute Sports Marketing Agency | Sports Management | $50 million |