It has been revealed how much Cristiano Ronaldo, who topped Forbes’ list of highest-paid athletes earned last year. In 2022, Ronaldo earned the same as Manchester United’s eight highest-paid players. After an explosive interview with Sun columnist Piers Morgan, the Portuguese star left Old Trafford for Saudi Arabia in November.
Despite his declining talents, Ronaldo, 38, was voted the world’s highest-paid athlete earlier this week in Forbes’ annual ranking. Furthermore, he made more than any other athlete, including Lionel Messi, who earned £104 million. Ronaldo reportedly earned £36.6 million in salary last year, in addition to an astounding £71.7 million in sponsorships.
Cristiano Ronaldo outperforms his former Manchester United teammates in terms of earnings
Following Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure, goalkeeper David de Gea is Manchester United’s highest earner. According to Spotrac, the Spaniard, whose contract is slated to expire at the conclusion of the season, earns £19.5 million every year. Indeed, it would take the salaries of United’s eight highest-paid players to equal Ronaldo’s total earnings last year.
Jadon Sancho reportedly earns £18.2 million per year, while Raphael Varane earns £17.68 million. Summer signing Casemiro is next on the list at £15.6 million, which equates to £300,000 a week, while Anthony Martial is said to earn £13 million per year. Bruno Fernandes earns £12.48 million, while Antony and Marcus Rashford each earn £10.4 million. De Gea, Sancho, Varane, Casemiro, Martial, Fernandes, Antony, and Rashford’s stated earnings total £108.26m, barely shy of Ronaldo’s total.
Money may not always bring contentment, as Cristiano Ronaldo has stated that he wants to leave Al-Nassr after only six months in Saudi Arabia. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is said to want to leave the middle-east country since his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez is unhappy and wants to return to Madrid.
According to El Nacional, Los Blancos are willing to offer Ronaldo an ambassadorial job rather than sign him back as a player because that option is ‘closed’. During his career at the Santiago Bernabeu, Ronaldo scored 451 goals in 438 matches. Since moving to Saudi Arabia, the Portuguese superstar has scored 12 goals and provided two assists in 12 Saudi Pro League matches.
Only three athletes in Forbes’ history have surpassed that total in a single year: Roger Federer, Tiger Woods, and Conor McGregor. Ronaldo, 38, has leapfrogged Lionel Messi and LeBron James into top spot after his Al Nassr move raised his annual salary to an estimated £60 million and opening him new marketing opportunities in his new home (Forbes’ on-field projection combines his two contracts for this season and accounts for his brief absence.)
Rumours are swirling that he may try to return to Europe this summer, but in the meanwhile, the wage hike has propelled him to the top of the athlete earnings list for the first time since 2017, and the third time overall, with his £108 million total setting an all-time high for a football player.