Ronaldo became the highest paid athlete in sports history

No longer a rumor, Ronaldo officially joined Al Nassr at dawn this morning. The home page of the Saudi Arabia club posted a radiant image of Ronaldo holding the number 7 shirt next to president Musalli Al-Muammar.

According to information given by Al Nassr, Ronaldo will sign a two-and-a-half year contract, lasting until June 2025, when the striker is 40 years old. Details of the agreement between the two sides have not been announced, but reputable sources in Europe say Ronaldo will enjoy an income of up to 200 million euros a year at Al Nassr.

Cristiano Ronaldo decided to go to Saudi Arabia to "rest" after being estranged from big European clubs. Previously, the 37-year-old Portuguese striker shocked everyone when he publicly criticized MU and coach Erik ten Hag for widening the way out. After a controversial interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo was liquidated by MU and became a free agent. However, he is still rejected by European clubs because of age, salary, and personality issues.

Ronaldo decided to become Al Nassr's player

In that context, the huge proposal that Al Nassr made made Ronaldo change his mind. Instead of trying to stay in top-flight football for at least two more years, CR7 agreed to go to Saudi Arabia to play in the last years of his career.

Al Nassr is one of the strongest clubs in Saudi Arabia today. The yellow shirt team has won nine national championships in the past, with the most recent being in 2019. In addition, they also became the runners-up in the Asian Cup in 1995.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s nod with Al Nassr helped him become the highest paid athlete in sports history. According to Forbes, Canelo Alvarez, a Mexican boxer, received the greatest "on-field" package for a male sports star in 2022, totaling £70 million. It also means that Ronaldo has the potential to earn more than £100 million more than the highest-paid male athlete in all sports.

Ronaldo became the highest paid athlete in sports history

Lionel Messi, a rival of Cristiano Ronaldo, loses out to Canelo for the top prize in 2022, earning £62 million. Neymar, Messi's teammate at Paris Saint-Germain, is next, costing £58 million. Three of the top four in 2023 are guaranteed to be football players thanks to the Brazilian, 30 year olds, and Messi, 35 year olds.

Lionel Messi's on-field earnings totaled £62 million

With salaries of £58 million and £52 million, respectively, American quarterbacks Matthew Stafford and Josh Allen are ranked fifth and sixth on the list. Then there is Tyson Fury, the 2022 WBC heavyweight champion, who made £50 million from fighting.

Aaron Rodgers, another NFL great, is ranked eighth with a salary of £47 million, earning about the same as Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 world winner. Deshaun Watson, a fourth quarterback, holds up the top 10.