Explainers

CRISTIANO RONALDO claimed the title of highest-paid sportsman in the world when he signed with Al Nassr at the end of 2022.The former Manchester United star’s astonishing wealth perhaps comes as no surprise, however, when considering the fact that the Portuguese star is the world’s most popular athlete with over 855 million social media followers.
Al Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo pictured during the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in November 2022Credit: Visionhaus//Getty Images
What is Cristiano Ronaldo’s salary at Al-Nassr? 
In December 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo signed a two-and-a-half year deal with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr and became the highest-paid sportsman of all time.
The father of five will earn a staggering £62m a year, in wages alone, after moving to Saudi Arabia and signing for the team, but the coins won’t stop there.
Ronaldo could earn as much as £173m for every year he is with the Saudi side, thanks to the various commercial opportunities and incentives involved within the deal.
His full Al-Nassr deal is thought to be set to run over seven years in total, and it’s believed that Ronaldo will take on an ambassadorial role when it ends.
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That means that Ronaldo, over the course of the contract, could take home as much as £1.2billion.
At the time of his Al-Nassr signing, Ronaldo said: “I’m thrilled for new experience in a different league and a different country.
“The vision that Al-Nassr has is very inspiring. I am very excited to join my team-mates, to help the team to achieve more success.”
The football superstar had been a free agent since his Manchester United contract was terminated in November 2022. 
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Ronaldo has since moved to Saudi Arabia with his partner, Georgina Rodriguez, and their family.
The former Real Madrid player’s eldest child is Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, born 2010, and he is also father to twins Eva and Mateo, who were born in 2017.
Rodriguez and Ronaldo welcomed their first child together, a baby daughter called Alana Martina, on November 12, 2017.
Four years later the couple announced they were expecting twins but, tragically, after Rodriguez gave birth in April 2022, the pair announced that their baby boy had passed away.
The couple have since named their baby daughter Bella Esmeralda.
What is Cristiano Ronaldo’s net worth? 
Ronaldo’s net worth was estimated to be somewhere between £210m and £230m before his deal with Al-Nassr.
It has since risen to an estimated £363m, though there is no definitive amount publicly known.
Ronaldo is, however, the best paid footballer in the world, definitively.
He is also the highest paid overall sportsman in the world, leaving basketball star LeBron James, in second place, and Paris Saint-Germain’s Lionel Messi in third.
How does Cristiano Ronaldo earn his money?
Ronaldo has a range of commercial deals and other ventures, some of which are tied to his football contract, that are expected to boost his yearly income to around £173m.
Thanks to his huge popularity, and swarm of social media followers, the star has landed head-to-toe sponsorships with brands like Nike, Sacoor Brothers suits and Monster headphones.
His lifetime contract with the sportswear manufacturers Nike, which began in 2003, is worth an astonishing £1billion in itself.
Ronaldo joined the luxury watch brand Tag Heuer in 2014 as long term brand Ambassador, and has also acted as brand ambassador for Castrol.
He first teamed up with the oil company in 2009 when he signed a two year deal worth £8.2m.
His affiliation with Castrol was extended in 2011 when he renewed the contract for £5.5m.
Others brands Ronaldo has teamed up with in the past include Coca Cola, KFC, video games maker Konami and airline Emirates.
Ronaldo has no shortage of companies who are keen to sign him and his own CR7 empire is also hugely popular.
Named after the football superstar, CR7 started as Ronaldo’s personal brand of underwear.

It has now expanded to different categories like sportswear, footwear, and a sock collection.
Ronaldo also has his own hotels in Portugal’s capital Lisbon, and his hometown of Funchal on the island of Madeira. More