Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo has officially become the first football player in history whose fortune has surpassed one billion US dollars, Bloomberg reports, citing its Billionaires Index.

Over a professional career spanning more than two decades, Ronaldo has played for some of Europe’s most prestigious clubs – including Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus – and has signed endorsement deals with brands such as Armani, Nike, and other global giants.

It was, however, his new contract with the Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr – valued at around 400 million US dollars – that made him the richest athlete of our time.

According to Bloomberg’s estimates, Ronaldo’s current net worth stands at approximately 1.4 billion US dollars.

At 40, Ronaldo remains not only a symbol of world football and one of its brightest stars, but also the most followed person on Instagram, with more than 660 million followers.

Experts note that this immense influence played a key role in Saudi Arabia’s decision to appoint him as a global ambassador for its sports and tourism strategy.

Photo: Instagram @cristiano