- The Portuguese star becomes the first footballer to bag the milestone
- The star has amassed the earnings in his playing career
- Mental Health and Psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first footballer in history to earn $1 billion during his playing career.
Forbes report that Juventus forward made a total of $650 million through football alone with the rest coming from an array of endorsement deals off the pitch.
The Portuguese star has had football stints with Sporting Lisbon in Portugal, Manchester United, Real Madrid and now currently playing for Italian giants Juventus.
He becomes only the third athlete to break the billion-dollar mark during his playing career – joining Tiger Woods (Golf) and Floyd Mayweather (Boxing) in that illustrious clique.
Ronaldo made a pre-tax total of $105 million this year, making him the second-highest-paid athlete over the last 12 months.
His nemesis Lionel Messi amassed $605 million through football contracts since starting his senior career but has remained at Barcelona throughout his career.
The 35-year old won three Premier League titles, two LaLiga titles in Spain, and one Italian title with Juventus last season.
His global attraction helped Juventus sell 520,000 Ronaldo shirts worth over $60 million within 24 hours of going on sale, according to Forbes.
His lifetime deal with Nike, signed in 2016, also brings the Portuguese international upwards of $20 million a year. He’s only the third athlete to sign with the brand for life, joining Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
