Cristiano Ronaldo became the 3rd athlete ever, and the only soccer star, to earn $1 billion while still playing
- Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first soccer player in history to earn $1 billion during his career, according to Forbes.
- The Juventus star has made $650 million on the pitch since beginning his professional career in 2002, while the rest of his earnings have come from his numerous endorsement deals.
- Forbes says the Portuguese is just the third athlete in history after Tiger Woods and Floyd Mayweather to earn $1 billion while still competing.
Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first soccer player in history to earn $1 billion during his career, and only the fourth billionaire athlete of all time.
That's according to Forbes, who reports the Portuguese star is just the third athlete in history after Tiger Woods and Floyd Mayweather to earn $1 billion while still actively competing.
Forbes says Ronaldo has made $650 million on the pitch since beginning his professional career in 2002, though that figure is expected to reach $765 million by the time his current contract with Juventus comes to an end in 2022.
The rest of Ronaldo's earnings have come off the pitch from his numerous endorsement deals. Nike pays Ronaldo upwards of $20 million annually having signed him to a lifetime deal in 2016, while the 34-year-old also has deals with Clear shampoo, Herbalife, and pharmaceutical firm Abbott.
Last month, Forbes revealed Ronaldo was the second highest paid athlete in the world over the past 12 months, having earned $105 million. Tennis superstar Roger Federer topped list with $106.3 million in total earnings.
"Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest players of all time, in the world's most popular sport, in an era when football has never been so rich," Sporting Intelligence's Nick Harris told Forbes.
"He's box office."
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The 10 highest-paid athletes in the world for 2020, according to Forbes