Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo, striker for Saudi club Al Nassr, has broken a new record, this time off the pitch, becoming the first footballer in history whose wealth exceeds one billion British pounds after signing a massive contract with the Saudi club, reflecting his continued significant influence both on and off the field.

Ronaldo moved to the Saudi league at the end of 2022 from Manchester United, signing an annual contract worth £173 million, before recently receiving a larger contract renewal, bringing his total earnings over the next two years close to £492 million.

According to Bloomberg, Ronaldo’s net worth reached $1.4 billion, equivalent to £1.045 billion, making him the first footballer to achieve this unique financial milestone.

Despite criticisms accompanying his move to Saudi Arabia and accusations of chasing money, Ronaldo repeatedly affirmed the strength and competitiveness of the Saudi league: “I fully believe in the level of the Saudi league, and those who haven’t played here do not understand the real challenge it presents. The competition here is strong, and we are indeed among the top five leagues in the world.”

Regarding his retirement plans, the 40-year-old Ronaldo said: “I no longer care about retirement as I used to. My philosophy now is to live day by day, enjoy every training and match, and let the future come as it will.”

On the sporting front, Ronaldo continues to shine with Al Nassr, having scored 104 goals in 117 matches across all competitions since his arrival, confirming his status as one of the greatest footballers in history, both on sporting and financial levels.