Less than a month after Lionel Messi’s blockbuster exit from FC Barcelona, Cristiano Ronaldo is shaking up the soccer world with a move of his own.
The 36-year-old star has agreed to join Manchester United, which will pay Juventus around $40 million, depending on performance, to facilitate its new striker’s release, sources tell Forbes. Terms of Ronaldo’s new contract have not been disclosed, although sources familiar with the contract have said that some details are still being finalized and that, pending a physical, Ronaldo is set to sign on for the next two seasons.
Ronaldo is one of the most financially successful athletes in history. Last year, his annual earnings of $105 million made him the first soccer player to earn $1 billion (before taxes), according to Forbes estimates. Messi followed him just a few months later, and the two rivals remain the sport’s only players to have reached that milestone.
This year, Ronaldo ranked as the third-highest-paid athlete in the world, behind Conor McGregor and Messi, with earnings of $120 million—$70 million of that made on the pitch and $50 million from endorsements. In addition to a lifetime deal with Nike, his sponsors include DAZN, Herbalife, MTG and Unilever.
Ronaldo’s Riches
Cristiano Ronaldo has earned more than $100 million annually in each of his last four appearances on Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-paid athletes. He was No. 1 in 2017.