Ronaldo on course to become first footballer to earn $1 billion

Cristiano Ronaldo is en route to becoming first football player and third sportsman overall to cross $1 billion in career earnings.  This is despite the fact that Ronaldo has reportedly agreed to a wage cut of nearly 4 million Euros with his club Juventus so as to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

According to Forbes, the cut hardly puts a dent on the Portuguese captain’s annual earnings and he had earned a staggering $109 million last year.

A further 30 percent wage cut is on the cards with the Serie A frozen due to the pandemic but Ronaldo could still earn an estimated $46 million annual paycheck.

The earnings he receives from his sponsorship deals and his CR7 underwear line could help take his earnings this year close to the $100 million mark again. This would help take him past the $1 billion in total earnings over an 18-year career. Ronaldo made his professional debut in 2002.

The Portuguese superstar is on target to join an elite list of sports stars to cross the landmark — joining golfer Tiger Woods, who hit the billion-dollar mark in 2009, and boxer Floyd Mayweather, who hit the magic number in 2017.

The 35-year-old is currently in his hometown of Madeira as the football season in Italy and around the world grinded to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Three of Ronaldo’s teammates at Juventus -- Argentine star Paulo Dybala, Italian defender Daniele Rugani and France’s World Cup winning midfielder Blaise Matuidi have all tested positive for the novel virus that has taken nearly 65,000 around the world.

Meanwhile, Portuguese star put up a video of himself getting a haircut from girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez at his home in Madeira for his 210 million plus followers on Instagram.

Ronaldo and his teammates at Juventus have agreed to waive off four month’s salary that will save the club more than 90 million Euros.

Italian football authorities have stated that the Serie A will not resume until the health situation in the country improves.

“With regards to the possible completion of the remaining Serie A and Coppa Italia matches, Lega Serie A will only consider the resumption of sporting activity when health conditions allow it, adhering, as it has always done, to government decrees and taking into primary consideration the protection of the health of the players and all those involved,” said the league in its official statement.

Indo-Asian News Service