1 Football Goat Has Beat Messi To The Billionaire Finish Line

Cristiano Ronaldo has just added another record to his already glittering career — and this one has nothing to do with goals. The Portuguese superstar has officially become the first billionaire footballer, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. That’s right — Ronaldo has crossed the billion-dollar threshold, edging out his longtime rival Lionel Messi in yet another chapter of their enduring rivalry.

At 40 years old, Ronaldo’s financial empire is as impressive as his stats sheet. His recent two-year contract extension with Saudi club Al-Nassr, worth a staggering $400 million, has propelled his total net worth to an estimated $1.4 billion. The deal cements his position not only as one of the world’s best-paid athletes but also as one of the wealthiest entertainers on the planet.

But it’s not just his on-field salary doing the heavy lifting. Ronaldo’s brand power is unmatched. He’s bagged lucrative partnerships with Nike, Armani, and Castrol, among others — with his lifetime deal with Nike alone reportedly worth nearly $200 million. Add in his fashion line, CR7-branded merchandise, hotels, and fitness ventures, and you have a business ecosystem that’s as finely tuned as his famous free kicks.

Between 2002 and 2023, Ronaldo earned about $550 million in player salaries, not counting his current tax-free paycheck from Saudi Arabia. Messi, on the other hand, has made around $600 million in pre-tax salary across his illustrious career, and though he trails Ronaldo in total net worth, his ongoing deal with Inter Miami — which includes a revenue-sharing agreement with Apple — could eventually close the gap. Insiders suggest that Messi’s post-retirement ownership stake in Inter Miami might make him the next to join football’s billionaires’ club.

Still, for now, the bragging rights belong to Ronaldo. From Madeira’s streets to Riyadh’s global stage, the Portuguese icon continues to redefine what it means to be a footballer in the modern era — not just a legend of the pitch, but a business empire in motion.

Love him or hate him, one thing’s undeniable: Cristiano Ronaldo has officially scored the biggest goal of his career — the billion mark.