Ronaldo Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Title: Ronaldo Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Last Updated: February 9, 2025
What is Ronaldo’s Net Worth and Salary?
With a net worth of $160 million, Ronaldo is a retired Brazilian football player. Affectionately referred to as “R9” or “O Fenomeno” (The Phenomenon), he made a significant impact—and earnings—on the world of football during his relatively brief time in the spotlight. Known for his remarkable goal-scoring ability, Ronaldo was instrumental in Brazil’s memorable World Cup victory in 2002. His innovative style redefined striker play, and at his peak, he was considered the best player globally. Today, he is regarded as one of the greatest players in football history.
Three times, he claimed the FIFA World Player of the Year award and has twice been honored with the Balon d’Or. Remarkably, he remains the youngest player ever to win the Balon d’Or, achieving this at just 21 years old. He also holds the record for being the youngest recipient of the FIFA World Player of the Year award at age 20. Professional clubs were eager to spend large sums to secure Ronaldo’s talents, leading to him breaking the world record for signing fees on two occasions.
As for his goal-scoring prowess, he ranks amongst the highest-scoring players in football history, netting 62 goals for Brazil, with only Pele surpassing him. By the age of 23, Ronaldo had already scored 200 goals combining club and international play. Unfortunately, a string of serious injuries abruptly cut his career short. In what felt like an instant, Ronaldo vanished from the football scene as quickly as he had risen to fame.
Post-retirement, Ronaldo dedicated himself to charitable work, serving as a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador. He was also an ambassador for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. In 2018, he became the owner of a Spanish La Liga team, Real Valladolid, and acquired a controlling stake in Cruzeiro in 2021.
Early Life
Born on September 18, 1976, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Ronaldo Luiz Nazario de Lima grew up with two siblings. From a young age, he played soccer in the streets of Rio. Following his parents’ divorce when he was 11, he left school to chase his dream of becoming a professional soccer player. His journey started in futsal (indoor soccer), where he joined a youth league and quickly became the top scorer, netting 166 goals in his first season. Futsal played a crucial role in shaping Ronaldo’s technical skills and close ball control, which became instrumental in his later career. Sports agents quickly recognized his talent and signed him.
Career
Ronaldo made his professional debut with Cruzeiro in Brazil in 1993. At just 16 years old, he scored five goals in a single match, capturing international interest. He netted an impressive 44 goals in 47 games during his debut season and joined the Brazilian World Cup team in 1994, although he was an unused substitute.
After the World Cup, he transferred to Dutch club PSV Eindhoven. Scoring 30 goals in his initial season led many to speculate that at just 18 years old, he could become the best player ever. However, his second season at PSV was hindered by a knee injury. Before the 1996-1997 season, he signed with Barcelona for a then-world-record fee of $19.5 million. In his debut season, he scored an astonishing 47 goals across all competitions, culminating in winning the FIFA World Player of the Year Award in 1996.
Ronaldo only spent a single season at Barcelona before transferring to Inter Milan, where he again broke the world record with a signing fee of $27 million. While adjusting to the Italian style of play during his first season, he eventually evolved into a well-rounded striker.
Ronaldo achieved significant recognition during his time at Inter, where he also earned his first Ballon d’Or.
As a starting striker for Brazil in the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo was widely regarded as the best player in the world. He scored consistently throughout the tournament, but a convulsive fit almost sidelined him right before the final. Fortunately, he managed to recover just hours before the match, though he appeared disoriented, and Brazil ultimately fell to France. Later on, a neurologist pointed out that Ronaldo shouldn’t have participated while still feeling the effects of a seizure.
In the years that ensued, serious knee problems began to plague Ronaldo. He completely ruptured his kneecap tendons in 2000, which resulted in nearly three years away from professional sports. However, he made a comeback in 2002, contributing to Brazil’s World Cup victory. That same year, he signed with Real Madrid for 46 million Euros. Although he played a pivotal role for Real, continuous injuries and weight issues hindered his performance during his Madrid tenure.
(Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Following his final appearance for Brazil at the 2006 World Cup, Ronaldo made a move to A.C. Milan in 2007, costing 8.05 million Euros. Shortly after, he encountered another severe knee injury and subsequently joined Brazilian club Corinthians. In 2011, he announced his retirement and disclosed for the first time that he was suffering from hyperthyroidism, which accounted for his weight issues. Furthermore, he expressed that despite his mental desire to continue, his body simply couldn’t endure any more injuries. His football career spanned 18 years in total.
Nike Contract
Nike swiftly signed Ronaldo to a lucrative deal, establishing a 10-year contract along with a lifetime brand endorsement in 1996 worth $180 million. Following the contract, Nike crafted the iconic Mercurial R9 soccer boot specifically for him. He showcased these boots during the 1998 FIFA World Cup, leading to their status as some of Nike’s most successful products. In the years afterwards, similar Mercurial designs were developed for other players, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe. Additionally, Ronaldo appeared in numerous Nike commercials throughout the years.
Other Brand Endorsements
Aside from his affiliation with Nike, Ronaldo has featured in various commercial campaigns over the years. Among his most prominent appearances are those in Snickers and Pirelli ads, and he has been a consistent presence in EA’s “FIFA” video game series.
Club Ownership
In 2018, news emerged that Ronaldo had acquired a controlling stake in La Liga club Real Valladolid, paying roughly 30 million Euros for a 51% share, thus becoming the majority owner. Following the acquisition, he expressed his commitment to his new managerial role, emphasizing his desire to assemble “the best team possible.”
In December 2021, he secured a controlling interest in Cruzeiro, the club where he started his career, for 400 million reais (approximately $70 million at the time).
Personal Life
In 1997, Ronaldo began a relationship with Brazilian model and actress Susana Werner, and the couple cohabited in Milan until 1999. In December 1999, he wed Brazilian footballer Milene Domingues, who was expecting their first child, but they divorced four years later. In 2005, he became engaged to Brazilian model and MTV VJ Daniela Cicarelli, although their relationship only lasted three months. In 2008, he got engaged to Maria Beatriz Antony, with whom he had two daughters. In December 2010, a paternity test confirmed Ronaldo as the father of a boy named Alexander, born from a brief relationship with Brazilian waitress Michele Umezu, whom he met in Tokyo in 2002. After confirming the existence of a fourth child, Ronaldo underwent a vasectomy.
Ronaldo Net Worth (Money & Salary)
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Data from 2023 and 2024 is available, along with forecasts for 2025 and 2026. We also provide expanded predictions looking ahead to 2027 and 2028.
* This information was taken from various sources around the world, including these countries:
Australia, Canada, USA, UK, UAE, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, US, United Kingdom, United States of America, Malaysia, U.S., South Africa, New Zealand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates.
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan.
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bouvet Island, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi.
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling Islands), Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Croatia (Hrvatska), Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic.
Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, Metropolitan, French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories.
Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Heard and McDonald Islands, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy.
Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg.
Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar.
Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand (NZ), Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway.
Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe.
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Helena, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Sudan, Suriname, Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria.
Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates (UAE), UK (United Kingdom), USA (United States of America, U.S.), US Minor Outlying Islands.
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City State (Holy See), Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands (British), Virgin Islands (US), Wallis and Futuna Islands, Western Sahara, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Post Title: Ronaldo Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Last Updated: February 9, 2025