There has been plenty of talks about which footballer would break the billion-dollar mark first. Just as Messi and Ronaldo rival each other on the pitch, the same can be said off it.
However, Ronaldo has reached a milestone that nobody can ever take away. The Portuguese superstar has become the very first billion-dollar footballer.
Forbes revealed that the levels of income the Real Madrid legend generates are unrivaled by any athlete who is part of a larger team and organization.
Forbes revealed:
“Cristiano Ronaldo earned $105 million before taxes and fees in the past year, landing him at No. 4 on the 2020 Forbes Celebrity 100.”
“One spot above his top rival in the sport, Lionel Messi, and making him the first soccer player in history to earn $1 billion.”
He has joined two other superstars Tiger Woods- Golf and Floyd Mayweather- Boxing as the sportsperson to who have earned more than $1 billion.
He is the first sportsperson from a team game to reach this mark and no even comes close. The statement continued:
“The only team athlete to even come within striking distance of those figures was former New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez.”
“Who retired in 2016 after 22 years in MLB having earned $450 million in salary.”
“Not even soccer legend David Beckham came close, ending his career with total earnings of $500 million, half of which came from off-pitch endorsements.”
“Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest players of all time, in the world’s most popular sport.”
“He’s box office.”
