Cristiano Ronaldo signed a gigantic deal with Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr in December 2022. After his contract with Manchester United was terminated “jointly” following a conflict with Erik ten Hag, Ronaldo took a surprising step to Al Nassr and even managed to state that he was not doing it for the money, but for he wanted to “lift” football in the dictatorial desert country.
For the first time in his career, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner left Europe and signed a deal that, according to reports, gives him an annual salary of £177 million – that is, £3.4 million a week.
Read: Xabi Alonso gets first setback before landing in Madrid
Unsurprisingly, this made him the world’s highest-paid footballer by a clear margin, and he was also named the world’s highest-paid athlete by Forbes.
Over £400 million in two and a half years
Ronaldo signed his contract on January 1, 2023, and since then, he has earned around £411 million at Al Nassr:
- £354 million over two years
- An additional £57 million in 2025
And that without winning a single trophy!
In addition to his salary, Ronaldo has earned €200 million on the pitch in 2024 and €60 million off the pitch through sponsorship deals with Nike, Binance, Herbalife and others. He has also launched a YouTube channel, UR – Cristiano, with 75 million subscribers and 840 million views.
As captain of Al Nassr, the 40-year-old Portuguese has scored 97 goals in 107 appearances, and his arrival led to several stars following to the Saudi Pro League.
Ronaldo’s contract with Al Nassr expires on June 30, 2025, and although he has previously expressed a desire to end his career there, it has been reported that negotiations for a two-year extension were put on hold due to weak form.
Some fans believe it may be time for Ronaldo to leave the club after Al Nassr’s last league game.
In his absence – due to injury – Al Nassr (who are currently in third place in the league) beat Al Akhdoud 9-0. Former Liverpool player Sadio Mané scored four goals, while ex-Aston Villa striker Jhon Durán netted twice.
Read on F7: Liverpool send sensational ‘offer’ to Kevin De Bruyne – Italian giant is also in the fight
Al Nassr next play Al Taawoun on Friday, and it remains to be seen if Ronaldo will be back on the pitch.
