Football legend has an empire that by far exceeds the pitch on which he plays. The 40-year-old created history outside the stadium when he became the first player from the beautiful game to become a billionaire.
He is now the richest footballer in the world and has left the likes of and Kylian Mbappe far behind.
Cristiano Ronaldo Way Ahead of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe
So how far ahead is Ronaldo from the rest of the pack and how far behind are Messi and Mbappe? The list of top 10 richest footballers has the likes of Ronaldo Nazario, Neymar and Karim Benzema on it so Ronaldo is sitting at the top of an exclusive club indeed.
© X/AlNassr FC
In fact, Ronaldo is in a class of his own as nobody else has entered the billionaire’s club. Even the man in second place, in this case Messi, is nowhere close to his tally of wealth.
Who are the Top 10 Richest Footballers in the World?
So who are the top 10 richest footballers in the world with Ronaldo leading the pack? Let’s have a look and find out:
1. Cristiano Ronaldo ($1.4 billion)
© X/AlNassr FC
Ronaldo is of course at the top since he is football’s first billionaire. Other than a huge Al-Nassr contract, he has more wealth thanks to his CR7 brand, global endorsements, hotels, gyms along with fashion lines.
2. Lionel Messi ($850 million)
© X/Major League Soccer
Messi has done well to blend his greatness as a footballer with partnerships of high-value. He has deals with big brands such as Adidas, Pepsi and Louis Vuitton. Not to mention his investments in the fields of real estate and technology.
3. David Beckham ($500 million)
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Beckham may no longer be an active footballer but he is still in the top three among the richest. He now earns via brand endorsements and also co-owns Inter Miami CF. His partnerships with brands like Adidas, H&M and Haig Club whiskey are long-term meaning he is raking in the big bucks.
4. Neymar ($350 million)
© X/AlHilal Saudi Club
Neymar received huge salaries at PSG and Al Hilal and add to that sponsorships from Puma and Red Bull. He might actually break into the top three soon.
5. Kylian Mbappe ($300 million)
© X/FIFA
One of the world’s highest-paid players at the moment, especially after joining Real Madrid, Mbappe is in the top five. He has deals with Nike, Hublot and EA Sports so no wonder his wealth keeps on growing at a brisk rate.
6. Wayne Rooney ($216 million)
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A vast majority of Rooney’s fortune came from his days in the Premier League and MLS. He’s retired now and is active as a manager and media personality.
7. Karim Benzema ($200 million)
© X/Real Madrid CF
After Real Madrid, Benzema moved to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia and that boosted his wealth quite a bit. Sponsorships and private investments also add to his bank balance.
8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic ($190 million)
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Zlatan’s football skills are matched by the charm he oozes and his power as a brand. He’s spent more than 20 years in the top leagues and has gotten sponsorships from Nike and Volvo which have all help contribute to making him more wealthy.
9. Ronaldo Nazario ($160 million)
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The original Ronaldo earned a living through hi-end contracts in the 1990s and 2000s plus endorsement deals. Now he has stakes in clubs such as Real Valladolid and Cruzeiro which means he’s quite a rich man.
10. Gareth Bale ($145 million)
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Bale makes it to the top ten. He made a lot of money at Real Madrid and had deals from Adidas and EA Sports. After calling time on his football career, Bale has entered golf-related businesses along with investment in property. He’s living pretty comfortably in his post-football days.