Highest Paid Athlete: Star striker Cristiano Ronaldo has joined the Saudi Arabian football club Al-Nassr on a two-year deal. The club announced the signing on Friday. The 37-year-old will receive $75 million (INR 1,170 CRORE) per year, making him the highest-paid athlete in history. With this deal, the Portugal captain has smashed records of Lionel Messi and Canelo Alvarez’s pay. Follow InsideSport.IN for LIVE updates about Football
“I am excited to experience a new football league in a different country,” Ronaldo said in Al-Nassr’s statement announcing the deal. “The vision of what Al Nassr are doing and developing in Saudi Arabia both in terms of men’s and women’s football is very inspiring. We can see from Saudi Arabia’s recent performance at the World Cup that this is a country with big football ambitions and a lot of potentials.”
“I am fortunate that I have won everything I set out to win in European football and feel now that this is the right moment to share my experience in Asia. I am looking forward to joining my new teammates and together with them help the Club to achieve success,” Ronaldo added.
Cristiano Ronaldo Transfer OFFICIAL, Ronaldo SIGNS two-year deal WORTH €200m with Saudi Arabian outfit Al Nassr: Follow LIVE Updates (insidesport.in)
Highest Paid Athlete: Cristiano Ronaldo becomes highest paid athlete in history after ‘more than’ 200 million Euros Al Nassr deal, smashes Lionel Messi, Canelo Alvarez’s pay, CHECK List of HIGHEST Paid Sportspersons
Ronaldo in Saudi: By Numbers
His base compensation is reportedly in the neighbourhood of £62 million every year, but those are just the beginning of the staggering numbers.
Ronaldo may make up to £173,000,000 for each year that he spends with the Saudi team, taking into account all commercial opportunities and incentives associated with the agreement.
All of those financial advantages are part of the Al Nassr agreement, therefore they can be regarded as on-field earnings.
Cristiano Ronaldo smashes Lionel Messi and Canelo Alvarez numbers
This deal of CR7 dwarfs any prior yearly compensation a sportsperson has ever received.
According to Forbes, Canelo Alvarez, a Mexican boxer, received the greatest “on-field (in-ring)” package for a male sports star in 2022, totaling £70 million.
Ronaldo could so make more than £100 million MORE than the highest-paid male athlete across all sports.
Lionel Messi, a rival of Cristiano Ronaldo, lost out to Canelo for the top prize in 2022, earning £62 million.
The Full List of the Highest paid athletes is here.
CR7 at Manchester United
Ronaldo and his former club Manchester United had agreed to terminate his deal last month after his controversial TV interview in which he fired shots at the club, its manager Erik Ten Hag and its owners, the Glazers family. Ronaldo criticized the club and said he has “no respect” for its manager Ten Hag.
The Portugal star was earlier this month seen training alone at his former club Real Madrid’s training ground, as he prepared himself to make a decision on his future.
Ronaldo experienced mixed fortunes in the 2022 FIFA World Cup despite becoming the only player ever to score in five World Cups. The No 7 shockingly came as a second-half substitute in Portugal’s 1-0 loss to Morocco in the quarters that ended his WC dream.
Highest Paid Athlete: Cristiano Ronaldo becomes highest paid athlete in history after ‘more than’ 200 million Euros Al Nassr deal, smashes Lionel Messi, Canelo Alvarez’s pay, CHECK List of HIGHEST Paid Sportspersons
Al-Nassr is based in Riyadh and competes in Saudi Pro League. In the nation’s top-flight club football, it has the second-highest amount of league titles.
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“This is more than history in the making,” Al-Nassr president Musalli Almuammar said.
“This is a signing that will not only inspire our club to achieve even greater success but inspire our league, our nation and future generations, boys and girls to be the best version of themselves.”
“He is a special footballer and a special person whose impact is felt far beyond football. Cristiano is joining a club with big ambitions, a competitive club amongst the very best in Asia and will be welcomed to a country that is making massive progress on and off the pitch with opportunities for all.”
“But first and foremost, we can’t wait to see him in the number 7 shirt of Al Nassr doing what he does best, scoring goals, winning titles and bringing joy to those who love the beautiful game,” concluded the club Musalli.
