LISBON, Portugal (BN24) — Cristiano Ronaldo has officially become the first active footballer to achieve billionaire status, with Bloomberg listing the global sports icon’s net worth at $1.4 billion in its Billionaires Index for the first time this week.
The valuation reflects the 40-year-old Portuguese forward’s expansive career earnings, strategic investments, and high-value endorsement deals. Currently playing for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, Ronaldo’s tax-free contract in Saudi Arabia has significantly contributed to his soaring wealth. Bloomberg attributes his financial rise to lucrative brand partnerships with global giants such as Nike and Armani, alongside his entrepreneurial ventures and long-standing commercial appeal.
The financial milestone comes in the same year Ronaldo signed a two-year contract extension with Al-Nassr, reportedly worth over $400 million. The deal ensures his presence in the Saudi league until after his 42nd birthday, reinforcing his position as the world’s highest-paid footballer, according to reports from BBC Sport and ESPN.
Despite mounting speculation about his retirement, Ronaldo made it clear he has no intention of stepping away from the game just yet. Speaking to Portugal’s Canal 11, he addressed the personal and public pressure to hang up his boots. “People, especially my family, say: ‘It’s time for you to stop. You’ve done everything. Why do you want to score a thousand goals?” he said. “But I don’t think so. I think I’m still producing good things, I’m helping my club and the national team, and why not keep going?”
Holding the all-time international goal record with 141 goals in 223 appearances, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner emphasised that his passion for football remains undiminished. “I know I don’t have many more years, but the few I have, I try to enjoy to the fullest,” Ronaldo said.
His legacy was further recognised on Tuesday when he received the Prestige Award at the Portugal Football Globes. Dismissing any notion that the accolade signals the twilight of his playing days, Ronaldo described it as a tribute to his enduring ambition and contribution to the sport. “It’s not an end-of-career award,” he said. “I see it as recognition of years of effort, dedication and ambition. I like winning, helping the younger generations, and they also help me maintain my level and continue competing. That’s what excites me: competing with the younger ones. I still have a passion for this.”
As Bloomberg confirms his status among the world’s elite earners, Ronaldo not only solidifies his place among football’s greatest legends but also as one of its most astute businessmen, bridging the worlds of sport and global enterprise with unprecedented success.
