Ronaldo Joins Football’s Billionaire Club: The Billion-Dollar Breakthrough in the Saudi Era
8 October 2025
The Billionaire Milestone
Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese star who plies his trade with Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, has become the first footballer to surpass the billionaire mark in wealth. The milestone follows a new, lucrative contract in Saudi Arabia and his high-profile 2022 move from Europe that kept his name in headlines around the world.
After signing a deal valued at hundreds of millions of pounds per year, Ronaldo's overall net worth has surged, with Bloomberg reporting a wealth figure around $1.4 billion, roughly 1.0 billion pounds. The numbers reflect both salary and the value of his multifaceted brand—merchandise, sponsorships, and media ventures that span continents.
According to Bloomberg, Ronaldo now sits comfortably above the one-billion-pound threshold, becoming a landmark case in football finance. His on-field output remains stellar, but the headlines are increasingly about wealth that was once considered impossible for a footballer.
Speaking about the move and the league, Ronaldo has faced questions about motives and whether money is the main driver. He has defended the Saudi league's competitiveness and growth, insisting that the competition is legitimate and progressing rapidly.
"Of course we are in a phase of improvement, but I believe we are currently among the top five leagues in the world," Ronaldo said after signing the new deal. "I am happy because I know the league has high competitiveness; only those who haven't played here fail to understand the level."
"I am convinced that the league's development will continue; we have shown in the last two years that the league is advancing," he added. "I am happy because I know the league has high competitiveness, only those who have not played here underestimate the level."
On retirement, Ronaldo said: "I will be frank, retirement is no longer a worry. If you had asked me 20 years ago I would have answered differently; I wanted to conquer the world, but now I see things differently." "My philosophy is to live day by day; life changes in a moment and you cannot plan long term. I now set short-term plans that keep me energized and focused on enjoying every day."
He has scored 104 goals in 117 appearances for Al Nassr.
Historical Footnote
Ronaldo is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in football history. Born in Madeira in 1985, he began at Sporting CP before moving to Manchester United in 2003, Real Madrid in 2009, Juventus in 2018, and a return to United in 2021. He joined Al Nassr in 2022 and continued to pursue success on and off the pitch, attracting global attention to the Saudi league. Internationally, he led Portugal to Euro 2016 glory and Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025, becoming the national team's all-time top scorer and a symbol of persistence and professionalism across generations.
In a business sense, his journey illustrates how longevity and branding can redefine football's economic horizon.
Sniper punchline 1: If wealth were a football match, Ronaldo would score a billion goals and still charge the stadium for his autograph.
Sniper punchline 2: They say money can't buy happiness, but Ronaldo's bank account clearly has excellent taste in goal celebrations.
