The way us football fans talk about a £30million transfer being a 'good deal' for a Premier League player in 2023 is an example of just how much money is in the game today.
With transfer fees and player salaries reaching record-highs thanks to the Saudi Pro League (SPL), it comes as no surprise that their first major signing Cristiano Ronaldo (from Manchester United to Al-Nassr) is now the highest-paid footballer in the world, according to Forbes.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is one of four SPL players to make Forbes' 'Top 10 Highest-Paid Soccer Players' for this year.
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Last night (13 October) Ronaldo scored twice to help his national team secure Euro 2024 qualification with a 3-2 victory against Slovakia in Porto.
Full Forbes list below
Goncalo Ramos and a Ronaldo penalty had the hosts two goals up at half-time, and after David Hancko’s reply, Ronaldo made it 3-1 in the 72nd minute with his 125th international goal.
At 38 years old, most players would have retired by now, but CR7 continues to win on and off the pitch - and nothing exemplifies that more than being the highest paid footballer in the world.
Forbes' top 10-list of on-field and off-field earnings is as follows:
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10. Harry Kane - $36 million
9. Kevin De Bruyne - $39 million
8. Sadio Mané - $52 million
7. Mohamed Salah - $53 million
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6. Erling Haaland - $58 million
5. Karim Benzema - $106 million
4. Kylian Mbappé - $110 million
3. Neymar Jr. - $112 million
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2. Lionel Messi - $135 million
1. Cristiano Ronaldo - $260 Million
Ronaldo's endorsement portfolio (including Nike and Jacob & Co), is worth an estimated $60 million per year, and on the pitch he earns a reported $4.1 million a week.
Off the field, the football star has had to face some strange allegations as of late, most recently after her reportedly hugged and kissed a woman on the cheek in Iran and reports suggested that he could face '99 lashes for adultery'.
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Iranian media claims that a number of lawyers have filed a complaint over the Portuguese footballer stemming from a meeting with Iranian painter Fatima Hamimi.
Ronaldo, who is in a long-term relationship with Spanish model Georgina Rodriguez, was in Iran with Al-Nassr ahead of their game against Persepolis in the group stage of the Asian Champions League in September.
Hamimi, who is partially paralysed, made a painting of Ronaldo which she then presented to him.
It’s been reported that he then kissed Hamimi on the cheek before giving her a signed shirt and putting his arm around the painter while he posed for a snap.
In Iranian law, touching a single woman is equivalent to adultery, with the punishment set at ‘99 lashes’.
More money, more problems, as they say.
Featured Image Credit: Amin M. Jamali/Getty Image/David S.Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty ImagesTopics: Sport, Football, Cristiano Ronaldo, Celebrity