Ronaldo and Messi are the two best football players of the 21st century. Obviously, with their influence on and off the field, they both possess enormous fortunes. So who is richer? Find out in the following Sporting News article. Ronaldo vs. Messi: Career Beginnings
Both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo had very challenging starts to their careers. Ronaldo was just a poor, unknown kid in Madeira, Portugal, when he was young. Meanwhile, Messi was a skinny, weak, and hormonally deficient boy.
However, their extraordinary talent and determination have made them world-class stars. Ronaldo began his career at Sporting CP, while Messi joined Barcelona’s La Masia academy.
Ronaldo vs. Messi: Income from football contracts
Cristiano Ronaldo’s first big move was to sign for Manchester United. After winning three Premier League titles and one Champions League there, he moved to Real Madrid.
After achieving great success in Madrid, Ronaldo continued his search for a new destination, joining Juventus in 2018. CR7 signed a multi-million-dollar contract worth €100 million, attracting a large number of fans to the Serie A club. However, this isn’t the Portuguese star’s most valuable contract. Al-Nassr has signed the Portuguese striker for €200 million until the end of 2022.
After leaving Barça, Lionel Messi signed for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) with a huge contract worth 35 million euros a year. He currently plays for Inter Miami on a contract that isn’t too expensive but brings him countless benefits. Ronaldo vs. Messi: Sponsorship Contract
At the beginning of their careers, club salaries were likely their only source of income. However, both football legends have their own sources of income, coming from sponsorship deals with major brands around the world.
Lionel Messi has deals with Pepsi, Adidas, and Turkish Airlines. Meanwhile, Ronaldo is the face of many major brands like Nike and Herbalife.
Ronaldo vs. Messi: Media and Social Media Revenue
Stars like Lionel Messi and Ronaldo have huge fan bases and followers on social media. Among them, CR7 is the celebrity with the most followers on Instagram (650 million).
It’s worth noting that the fees for Messi and Ronaldo’s social media posts aren’t cheap, as both are highly influential players not only on the field but also on social media. According to some sources, Louis Vuitton had to pay $3.7 million to publish a photo of Leo and Ronaldo playing chess.
Ronaldo vs Messi: Business Project
Outside of playing time, both Ronaldo and Messi have their own business ventures that generate additional income. The Portuguese player owns numerous restaurants, hotels, gyms, and perfume brands, and owns numerous luxury cars and villas.
Similarly, Messi is also busy promoting his fashion brand: The Messi Store.
Ronaldo vs. Messi: Real Estate Investment
According to some sources, Ronaldo’s total property portfolio is estimated at around 43 million pounds, while Lionel Messi’s is 23 million pounds.
Ronaldo vs. Messi: Investing and Collecting Supercars
Some news sites reported that CR7 spent a total of approximately $25 million to equip his garage. Nearly every luxury car brand is in CR7’s garage, including Rolls-Royce and Bugatti.
However, Messi is a bit better off, owning between 12 and 15 luxury cars with a total value of approximately over $36 million. Among them, the most notable is the Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti.
Ronaldo vs. Messi: Who’s Richer? Comparing Ronaldo and Messi’s Net Worth
Ronaldo is estimated to have a fortune of $500 million by 2023, while Messi is slightly higher at $600 million.
