Cristiano Ronaldo Becomes Highest-Paid Football Player After Signing $200m Deal with Saudi Club Al-Nassr

The Portuguese star footballer Cristiano Ronaldo just made history after signing with the Saudi Arabian Pro League club Al-Nassr. The striker has become the highest-paid footballer in history. The new contract will reportedly see him take home around $200 million per year. Following his recent departure from Premier League club Manchester United, Ronaldo will be moving to Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh and adding hundreds of millions of dollars to his existing fortune which he’s made through his successes on and off the pitch. 

Portugal Superstar Joins Saudi Club Al-Nassr in a Mega Deal 

After recently leaving the Premier League club Manchester United, Ronaldo just struck a mega deal with the Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. Including commercial agreements, the Portuguese superstar will earn around $200 million per year, as cited by multiple outlets. It is thought to be the highest salary in the history of football. The newly signed contract will last for two-and-a-half years and see him play for Riyadh’s side until June 2025.

While the star forward had already been earning a staggering $600,000 per week with Manchester United, the new contract will reportedly see him make over $1 million per week. Already back in 2020, as ESPN reported, Ronaldo became the first footballer ever to make more than $1 billion in career earnings. The Portuguese had left Juventus Turin to rejoin Manchester United in 2021, but abruptly left the club ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022 after a falling out with the club’s management.  

Finding New Experiences Abroad 

As quoted by ESPN, Ronaldo said he was excited to experience a new football league in a different country after having won everything he had set out to win in Europe. He is now set on helping Al-Nassr achieve success. The Riyadh-based club competes in the country’s top division, the Saudi Pro League. Having won nine titles, Al-Nassr is currently the second most successful club in the league behind defending champion Al-Halil with 18 league wins. Al-Nassr is currently sitting in the league’s top spot after eleven matches. Whether Al-Nassr will be able to claim the title four years after their last championship win remains to be seen, but with Ronaldo by their side, the odds should be tilting in their favour.

Many of the best-rated bookmaker sites as listed on SBO offer sports bets on a large variety of leagues from all around the world, including the Saudi Pro League. Ronaldo fans can see his new team’s odds for each of the upcoming matches. According to the bookmakers, Al-Nassr’s odds of winning points in the upcoming matches to come out at the top at the end of the season are looking good. For the club, the league, and the entire nation, the signing is a big deal and has been described as “history in the making” by the club. For Ronaldo, while a big step down from top-level football, the new deal marks an immensely lucrative one that will bring him hundreds of millions in income.  

A Football Star, Celebrity and Businessman 

Ronaldo is considered one of the best football players of all time. He’ll bring an incredible list of honours and trophies to Saudi Arabia, where the 37-year-old will most likely spend his final years as a professional club player. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner recently returned from the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he was the first athlete to score a goal in five different world cups. With over 800 senior goals, Ronaldo has won titles on a domestic and international level with his clubs Real Madrid, Juventus Turin and Manchester United.

In addition to his successes on the pitch, he also has a large portfolio of ventures outside of football. Besides his lifetime deal with Nike, Ronaldo has several businesses. The football star owns hotels, clothing brands, a perfume company, a restaurant, fitness centres, hair clinics, and a private jet rental, making him not only a star athlete but also a top businessman. With more than 480 million followers, he’s also the most followed athlete on social media. He’s currently working on a real estate project in Portugal, further adding to his vast business portfolio. With his new $200 million deal, he’ll add to his fortune to invest in his vast array of ventures.  

Cristiano Ronaldo has joined Saudi Pro League’s club Al-Nassr in a mega deal that will bring him hundreds of millions of dollars, making him the highest-paid professional football player in history.