The First Athlete to Reach $2 Billion in Earnings Before Retirement

The first athlete to reach $2 billion in earnings before retirement
Cristiano Ronaldo has achieved a historic record: he is the first active athlete in the world to surpass $2 billion in total career earnings. According to the latest Forbes ranking, the estimated earnings of the Portuguese star have reached $2.09 billion, equivalent to 7.67 billion dirhams. It is expected that Lionel Messi will also reach this milestone by the end of 2027.
Ronaldo, with this figure, is ahead of Tiger Woods, the golf legend with $1.97 billion in earnings. Messi is also in third place with $1.87 billion.
A significant portion of Ronaldo's earnings comes from his lucrative contract with Al Nassr Club in Saudi Arabia; a contract that generates over $200 million annually for him. This 41-year-old player has had an estimated annual income of at least $100 million for 10 consecutive seasons, including his time at Manchester United, Juventus, and Real Madrid.
However, total career earnings differ from net worth. Forbes estimates Ronaldo's net worth to be around $1.2 billion. He entered the Forbes Billionaires list for the first time in June; slightly ahead of Messi, whose net worth is estimated to be around $1.1 billion.
The 39-year-old Messi is also on track to reach the $2 billion record with an estimated income of $145 million this year. His presence at Inter Miami in the USA and reported agreements for revenue sharing with sponsors like Adidas and Apple TV have helped increase his income.
After leaving Paris Saint-Germain in 2023, Messi declined a reported annual offer of $400 million from Saudi Arabia and joined Inter Miami. The value of this club has now reached about $1.35 billion, the highest in Major League Soccer (MLS).
He also has the option to buy a share of Inter Miami after retirement. Messi currently holds shares in two Spanish clubs, CD Eldense and UE Cornellà.
As both stars approach the final years of their playing careers, their financial records indicate that their legacy extends beyond the football field and championship trophies.
Source: Gulf News