Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr in January 2023 turned plenty of heads for a number of reasons.
After playing his entire career in Europe, the 39-year-old Portugal star is now competing in Asia, where many assume he’ll eventually begin to wind down his career.
Ronaldo’s decision to sign for Al Nassr was a complex one, with the club’s eye-watering offer no doubt playing a part in his ultimate decision.
While already one of the wealthiest footballers in the world, Ronaldo’s Saudi deal has taken him into a league all of his own.
Now, after banking an eye-watering amount of money across his first two seasons at the club, he has reportedly agreed to extend his Saudi Arabia stay at an even more insane total.
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How much is Ronaldo paid in Saudi Arabia? Salary details
According to a report by Portuguese publication A Bola, Cristiano Ronaldo is set to extend his Al Nassr contract through the summer of 2026 with an annual value of €200 million ($204m / £167.9m).
This is right in line with reports of Ronaldo’s previous contractual value, paid €200 million ($213m / £173m by Jan. 2023 conversion rates) a year by Al Nassr after signing his initial deal.
Notably, only a fraction of this relates to him actually playing football, with his image rights and commercial deals reportedly funding more than half of his total earnings while in Saudi Arabia. A Bola’s report of Ronaldo’s latest extension indicates that his €200 million deal could increase depending on potential changes to both the signing bonus and image rights.
When Ronaldo joined, Saudi Arabia were reportedly expected to help pay for Ronaldo’s wages as they use the Portugal star in their bid to jointly host the 2030 World Cup — something Al Nassr have since denied.
Ronaldo’s mind-boggling salary equates to:
- Monthly: $17.75m
- Weekly: $4.43m
- Daily: $633,928
- Hourly: $24,413
- Per minute: $406.88
- Per second: $6.78
MORE: Ronaldo becomes highest paid player in history
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How long is Ronaldo’s contract with Al Nassr?
Ronaldo initially signed on to play with Al Nassr for two and a half years in January 2023, with his contract set to expire in the summer of 2025. According to recent reports, that deal has been extended one further year through the summer of 2026.
That means the forward will be lining up in Saudi Arabia past when he turns 40 years old, an age at which he has previously hinted he wishes to retire. Ronaldo would turn 41 on February 5, 2026, four months before the end of the 2025/26 season.
If Ronaldo was also to serve as an ambassador for Saudi Arabia’s 2030 World Cup bid, he would also likely be tied to the country for longer than his playing deal depending on how the bid progresses.
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Is Ronaldo the richest player in sports?
In terms of yearly salary, Ronaldo’s contract with Al Nassr is the richest in sports history.
While Lionel Messi’s previous deal with PSG originally saw him earn more money over time than Ronaldo, before he moved to MLS with Inter Miami — $674m compared to $536m — the Portugal star’s yearly wage eclipses anything Messi takes home.
After those two global icons, NFL player Patrick Mahomes has the next richest contract courtesy of a 10-year deal that will see him earn $503m.
Here’s Cristiano Ronaldo with Al Nassr shirt after contract signed until June 2025 ????? #Ronaldo
▫️ Agreement valid for two years and half;
▫️ Total salary will be close to €200m per year, but this includes commercial deal.
It’s the biggest salary ever in football. pic.twitter.com/ZnOg8lY6Wb
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 30, 2022
MORE: Who is paying Cristiano Ronaldo his monster salary?
Are there clauses in Ronaldo’s Al Nassr contract?
Due to the large sum of money paid to Ronaldo, there are reportedly numerous clauses in his contract.
While none have been confirmed, and leaked clauses have been swiftly denied, it’s worth highlighting what reportedly may be in Ronaldo’s deal.
An early rumored clause was that Ronaldo would be allowed to join Saudi-owned Newcastle United on loan should they qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
With the Magpies now run by Saudi Arabian owners, the link seemed to make some sense but club manager Eddie Howe has claimed there was no truth to the reports. Ronaldo himself also said he was done with Europe when he was unveiled by Al Nassr.
The other widely reported clause involved Ronaldo promoting Saudi Arabia’s bid to co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Greece and Egypt. Al Nassr have, however, come out to quash those rumors.
“Al Nassr FC would like to clarify that contrary to news reports, Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract with Al Nassr does not entail commitments to any World Cup bids,” a club statement read.
“His main focus is on Al Nassr and to work with his teammates to help the club achieve success.”
Cristiano Ronaldo net worth
With a deal locking in a profitable final few years for Ronaldo on the pitch, his net worth is only set to grow.
According to various reports, it’s estimated the Portugal veteran is worth around $500 million (£363m).
Forbes reported that Ronaldo made $115 million (£93m) in 2022 alone — a figure that will have jumped in 2023 and 2024 thanks to his Al Nassr contract.