Ronaldo Signs $676 Million Al Nassr Extension Through 2027, Becoming Football’s First Active Billionaire
Updated
Updated · cuindependent.com · May 22
Ronaldo Signs $676 Million Al Nassr Extension Through 2027, Becoming Football’s First Active Billionaire
1 articles · Updated · cuindependent.com · May 22
$676 million over two years will keep Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr through 2027, with the package rising to as much as $275 million a year.
The extension pushed Ronaldo’s net worth above $1 billion in June 2025, making him the first active footballer to reach that mark.
The new deal includes a $245 million annual base salary, a $34 million signing bonus and a 15% Al Nassr stake valued at about $45 million.
Ronaldo now earns roughly $670,000 a day, far above his first Sporting CP wage of €1,500 a week in 2002.
Forbes projects his combined salary and endorsement earnings will top $2 billion by retirement, helped by a lifetime Nike deal and the tax-free Saudi contract.
With a tax-free contract and club ownership, has Ronaldo created a new playbook for athlete earnings?
How did Ronaldo build a $2 billion empire, revealing the future of athlete wealth?
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Billion-Dollar Impact: How One Superstar Reshaped Saudi Football, Club Ownership, and Global Sports Salaries (2025–2027)
Overview
In early 2026, Cristiano Ronaldo refused to play for Al-Nassr, protesting the club’s lack of investment compared to rivals like Al Hilal, who were strengthening their squad. Ronaldo was concerned that Al-Nassr was being sidelined by the Public Investment Fund’s strategy, which he believed threatened competitive balance in the Saudi Pro League. He openly opposed Karim Benzema’s potential move to Al Hilal, arguing it would further harm fair competition. At the time, Al Hilal was just one point ahead of Al-Nassr, making Ronaldo’s protest a direct challenge to both club policy and the league’s investment approach.