Cristiano Ronaldo net worth timeline (2016–2026): How football, brand deals, and Al Nassr made him one of the richest athletes

Cristiano Ronaldo is not just a football star. He is also one of the richest athletes in the world. His money has grown year after year through big club contracts, huge bonuses, and long-term brand deals.

With time he has become the first football billionaire and one of the richest athletes in the world. His wealth has steadily risen from 2016 to 2026.

Cristiano Ronaldo rise toward $400 million at Real Madrid (2016–2018)

From 2016 to 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo played for Real Madrid on one of the biggest contracts in world football. Reports from Forbes showed he earned tens of millions of dollars each year from salary and performance bonuses alone.Off the field, his Nike deal was already one of the richest in sports.

He also made money from image rights and early CR7 business projects. By the end of this period, Forbes and Business Insider estimated his net worth moving close to the $300–$400 million range.

Cristiano Ronaldo Juventus years and steady money growth (2018–2021)

In 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Juventus. The Italian club confirmed he signed a four-year deal worth about €30 million net per season. This kept him among the highest-paid football players in Europe.During these years, his income stayed strong from Champions League bonuses and global sponsorships.

Forbes continued to list him as one of the world’s top-earning athletes every year. His net worth estimates stayed in the high hundreds of millions and kept rising steadily.

Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United return and Al Nassr deal (2021–2024)

Ronaldo returned to Manchester United in 2021 on a very high Premier League salary, confirmed by the club. He remained near the top of athlete rich lists during this time.The biggest jump came in late 2022, when Al Nassr announced his signing in Saudi Arabia.

Forbes and Bloomberg reported the deal was worth close to $200 million per year when salary and commercial agreements were included. This pushed net worth estimates toward and above $500 million. In 2023 and 2024, Forbes ranked him as the world’s highest-paid athlete.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s net worth picture in 2026

By 2026, Cristiano Ronaldo’s wealth is driven by three clear sources. First is his Al Nassr contract. Second is his long-term Nike partnership. Third is the CR7 brand, which includes fashion, hotels, and fitness businesses.Recent Forbes rich lists still place him among the richest athletes on the planet. His growth trend from 2016 to 2026 is high, steady, and backed by huge contracts and major business deals.Also Read: Cristiano Ronaldo Net Worth 2022, 2023, 2024 & 2025: Year-By-Year Breakdown Of Football Star’s Rise To Billionaire Status