Ronaldo Vs Messi: Who Is The Richest Athlete?

Explore the fortunes of these two football legends in this in-depth comparison of their wealth.

Messi vs. Ronaldo … who is the richest athlete between them? Well, the answer isn’t as simple as a penalty shot.

In the world of sports, these two titans are known as magicians, as they can win anyone’s heart with their unrivaled skills and phenomenal charm. One was born with extraordinary talent, and the other struggled to become the best; both have proven their excellence outside the field too.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi both built an enormous empire of fortune in the past few years, but the question is, who is richer? It’s time to open the forbidden vault and explore the fortunes of both footballing maestros … don’t forget to grab some snacks, it might take a while.

Early Life And Beginnings

Before we dive into their empires and find ourselves lost in the luxurious mansions, sports cars, and two gorgeous senoritas, let’s shed some light on the early lives of both football giants.

Both took a challenging start; when Ronaldo (an unknown boy) used to clean the road in financially struggling Madeira, Portugal, Messi was facing his own hardships. However, their extraordinary talent turned their lives upside down; one started his career with Sporting CP, and the other with La Masia Academy (FC Barcelona’s famous academy).

The Rise To Stardom

When these protagonists stepped onto the field, their fame swiftly rose like the beanstalk from magical beans in fairytales.

Ronaldo, with his exceptional style and seductive physique, ended up at Manchester United, where he won three English Premier League Titles and a UEFA Champions League Trophy. His unstoppable efforts assisted him in securing a distinctive place at Real Madrid, where he continued to shine.

Meanwhile, Messi continued to dribble all the way to the opponent’s goal post. He found himself at FC Barcelona, where he became the all-time leading scorer in no time.

Contractual Riches

We hope you have a calculator for this part, as we’re about to dive in to a colossal empire of riches and luxuries.

Ronaldo, who became a sensation at Real Madrid, decided to explore his way to Juventus in 2018. The already legendary athlete signed a contract worth a whopping €100 million with the Italian Club, convincing an ocean of followers to buy new CR7 Jerseys.

If you’re thinking that this is too much, there’s more to the story. According to reports, Ronaldo signed a mind-boggling contract worth €200 million with Saudi Arabia’s emerging football club Al-Nassr.

Lionel Messi, who had already become the unquestionable star of FC Barcelona, dribbled his way to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) with a massive contract worth €35 million per year.

Sponsorship Deals

It might seem at first as if their club’s contract is their only source of earnings, but salaries are just part of their respective fortunes. Both football legends have made lucrative sponsorship deals with globally recognized brands.

Lionel Messi, also known as the magician, has made remunerative deals with giants like Pepsi, Adidas, and Turkish Airlines. Ronaldo, on the other hand, shook hands with Nike, CR7, and Herbalife.

These deals helped these field masters grow their fortune empires even higher.

Social Media Powerhouses

Massive football salaries and endorsement deals worth millions are, again, not their only sources of income. Both have carved their name in the hearts of Galaxy’s population.

These football hotshots possess a prodigious number of fans and followers across numerous social media platforms – but Ronaldo wears the crown as the most followed celebrity on Instagram, with a humongous 300 million plus followers.

They command a giant fee for sponsored posts, owing to their influence on the pitch (and on Instagram). According to reports, they collectively charged a whopping amount of $3.7 million, for a famous Chess picture sponsored by Louis Vuitton.

Business Ventures

These high-profile athletes do not just wow their audience on the field; they run some lucrative business ventures too.

Owner of numerous luxury cars, lavish mansions, and the heart of Georgina, Cristiano Ronaldo is running successful business ventures, including CR7, hotels, gyms, and fragrances.

Messi, on the other hand, is busy promoting his very own clothing brand, The Messi Store. These business endeavors enable these soccer legends to grow their mountains of riches even further.

Real Estate Holdings

The moment everyone, including us, has been waiting for … the real estate portfolios of these two field giants.

As charming as CR7 is, his luxurious mansions laid all over the globe are even more compelling. Throughly furnished with luxurious amenities, Cristiano Ronaldo’s real estate portfolio has an estimated worth of a mammoth £43 million.

Hopefully your calculator can keep up, as we’re about to tackle the staggering value of Lionel Messi’s real estate empire. According to reports, the father of three’s real estate portfolio has an estimated total worth of £23 million.

Supercar Showcase

This virtual journey would be incomplete without taking at least a cursory glance into the collection of deluxe cars owned by these football legends.

Famous for his ultra luxe lifestyle, Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly spent approximately $25 million to furnish his heavenly garage. From Rolls-Royce to Bugatti, you can find almost every high-end automotive brand in his showroom.

However, Lionel Messi wins this round by having ownership of between twelve and 15 luxury cars, with an approximate worth of more than $36 million. His Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti is the crown jewel of his astounding collection.

Net Worth: Ronaldo Vs. Messi

So far, we’ve looked at the history of and various assets held by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi; now, let’s talk about their actual net worth.

According to reports, Cristiano Ronaldo has an estimated net worth of approximately $500 million in 2023. On the other hand, Messi seemingly edges him out, boasting an estimated net worth of approximately $600 million.

Does that mean Messi is richer than Ronaldo? Not exactly – let’s continue our journey and find out the answer.

Charity Work

Both athletes do not miss any opportunity to win hearts in the field of the charitable world, taking time away from enjoying their sizeable fortunes to give back.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ronaldo donated over €1.5 million to Portugal, while Messi proved his philanthropic spirit by supporting children’s hospitals and UNICEF initiatives.

Who Takes The Crown?

Declaring a winner in this competition no easy task, as both superstars possess an immense amount of wealth, and live the most luxurious life possible. If we look at the net worth of both maestros, Messi has a $100 million margin – but these numbers go up and down periodically, particularly when millions are measured in hundreds; in the end, this legendary rivalry isn’t just limited to the field, and goes beyond anyone’s imagination.

Credits: Shaiman Saleem / TheRichest