Ronaldo Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Ronaldo’s Net Worth and Salary?

With a net worth of $160 million, Ronaldo is a former Brazilian football player renowned for making a significant impact on the sport, often referred to as “R9” or “O Fenomeno” (The Phenomenon). Despite a career that was relatively brief, he was a prolific scorer and led Brazil to a glorious World Cup victory in 2002. He is also acknowledged for transforming the way strikers approach the game. At the peak of his career, Ronaldo was viewed as the top player globally and is now celebrated as one of the greatest of all time.

He was honored with the FIFA World Player of the Year award three times and earned the Balon d’Or award on two occasions, making him the youngest player ever to win the Balon d’Or at just 21 years old. Additionally, he became the youngest recipient of the FIFA World Player of the Year award at 20. Clubs were eager to pay exorbitant fees to secure his services, leading Ronaldo to twice set the world record for transfer fees.

As for his goal-scoring prowess, he ranks among the highest of all time, netting 62 goals for Brazil and only surpassed by Pele for his national team. By age 23, he had already scored 200 goals for club and country. Unfortunately, his career faced a sudden decline due to severe injuries, leading to a rapid exit from the football scene.

After retiring, Ronaldo engaged in philanthropy, becoming a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme. He also represented the 2014 FIFA World Cup as an ambassador. In 2018, he acquired a team in La Liga, Real Valladolid, and in 2021, he obtained a controlling interest in Cruzeiro.

Early Life

Born on September 18, 1976, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Ronaldo Luiz Nazario de Lima grew up with two siblings and began playing soccer on the streets from a young age. Following his parents’ divorce at 11, he left school to chase a professional soccer career. His journey started in futsal (indoor soccer) where he joined a youth league and quickly became the top scorer in the city league, netting 166 goals in his debut season alone. The futsal experience played a vital role in his development, helping him acquire technical skills and ball control that would later define his playing style. He soon caught the attention of sports agents.

Career

Ronaldo made his professional debut with the Brazilian club Cruzeiro in 1993. At just 16, he garnered international attention by scoring five goals in a single match. He went on to score 44 goals in 47 matches during his maiden season and joined Brazil’s World Cup squad in 1994, although he did not play.

Post World Cup, he signed with Dutch team PSV Eindhoven. After finding the back of the net 30 times in his first season, questions arose whether he had the potential to become the best player ever, even at the age of 18. His second season at PSV was hampered by a knee injury. Just before the 1996-1997 season, Ronaldo transferred to Barcelona for a then-record fee of $19.5 million, where he astonishingly scored 47 goals across all competitions in his first season, concluding 1996 with a FIFA World Player of the Year Award.

After a single season at Barcelona, Ronaldo transitioned to Inter Milan, once again breaking the record for transfer fees with a $27 million signing. Even though he needed to adjust to the Italian style of play during…the first season, he matured into a more well-rounded striker while at Inter, ultimately claiming his first Ballon d’Or.

During the FIFA World Cup in 1998, Ronaldo was the starting striker for Brazil, and many viewed him as the world’s top player. Throughout the tournament, he consistently found the back of the net until a convulsive seizure almost sidelined him from the final match. Miraculously, he recovered mere hours before the game, but appeared disoriented, leading Brazil to defeat against France. A neurologist later determined that Ronaldo should not have played while experiencing post-seizure symptoms.

In the aftermath, Ronaldo faced significant knee problems. In 2000, he experienced a complete rupture of his kneecap tendons, resulting in nearly three years away from professional sports. Nevertheless, he made a comeback in 2002, playing a crucial role in Brazil’s World Cup victory. That same year, he signed with Real Madrid for 46 million Euros. Despite being a key player for Real, ongoing injuries and weight struggles plagued his time in Madrid.

After making his final appearance for Brazil in the 2006 World Cup, Ronaldo transferred to A.C. Milan in 2007, costing 8.05 million Euros. Subsequently, he endured another significant knee injury in 2008, shortly before joining Brazilian club Corinthians. In 2011, he officially announced his retirement, disclosing for the first time his battle with hyperthyroidism – a condition that contributed to his weight gain problems. He shared that despite his desire to keep playing mentally, his body could no longer endure the toll of numerous injuries. His entire football career spanned 18 years.

Nike Contract

Swiftly, Nike secured a lucrative contract with Ronaldo. In 1996, he agreed to a 10-year and lifetime brand endorsement deal with Nike worth $180 million. Soon after signing, Nike created the iconic Mercurial R9 soccer boot for him, which he sported during the 1998 FIFA World Cup, leading to its continued success. Over the years, similar Mercurial boots were released for players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe. Additionally, Ronaldo featured in numerous Nike commercials throughout the years.

Other Brand Endorsements

In addition to his Nike affiliation, Ronaldo has appeared in various other commercials throughout his career. Some of his most memorable appearances include campaigns for Snickers and Pirelli, and he is also a regular character in EA’s “FIFA” video game series.

Club Ownership

In 2018, it was revealed that Ronaldo had acquired a controlling interest in the La Liga club Real Valladolid, investing approximately 30 million Euros for a 51% stake, making him the majority owner. Following the acquisition, Ronaldo expressed his intent to approach his new managerial responsibilities with great seriousness, declaring his ambition to build “the best team possible.”

In December 2021, he took over a controlling interest in Cruzeiro, his childhood club, for 400 million reais (around $70 million at that time).

Personal

Life

In 1997, Brazilian model and actress Susana Werner met Ronaldo, leading to a long-term relationship during which they cohabited in Milan until 1999. He married Brazilian footballer Milene Domingues in December 1999, while she was expecting their first child; however, their marriage ended in divorce four years later. In 2005, Ronaldo became engaged to MTV VJ and Brazilian model Daniela Cicarelli, but their relationship was short-lived, lasting only three months. By 2008, he was engaged to Maria Beatriz Antony, with whom he has two daughters. A paternity test in December 2010 confirmed that Ronaldo was the father of a boy named Alexander, born from a brief relationship with Brazilian waitress Michele Umezu, whom he met in Tokyo in 2002. Following the confirmation of his fourth child, Ronaldo underwent a vasectomy.