Even in Saudi Arabia, it appears that there are things that money can’t buy.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s decision to become the first high-profile addition to the Saudi Pro League in 2023 has turned him from a lavishly wealthy man into baby baron. At 40-years-old he is well on the way to joining the growing ranks of billionaire sports people.
And having continued to contribute for his national side in the past couple of years, he has proved that the remuneration of his services is not completely without merit. Still, it’s hard to justify a yearly pay packet of around £164milliion.
Remarkably, that figure is just for the former Manchester United star’s on-field contributions to Riyadh-based outfit Al-Nassr. The striker earns another £49m from ventures away from the turf.
It’s a stunning deal for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner in the twilight of his career and as recently as January, all reports pointed to him penning an even bigger contract to remain in Saudi into his 41st year.
However, last week reports out of Spain fuelled speculation that Ronaldo’s future in the Gulf state is in doubt, with only two months remaining on his current deal with Al-Nassr.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been handsomely compensated for his time in Saudi Arabia but he has been unable to make his stay a complete success, with Al-Nassr starved of silverware
The 40-year-old and partner Georgina Rodriguez have offered glimpses into their lavish life
Ronaldo and his family put down roots with the purchase of a mansion in the exclusive residential area of Al Muhammadiyah
According to Marca, negotiations over new terms have stalled for one reason all the riches in Saudi Arabia cannot provide, well, legitimately.
To help construct his Saudi paradise, Ronaldo and his family put down roots with the purchase of a mansion in the exclusive residential area of Al Muhammadiyah.
But despite being based in Saudi Arabia for much of the year, the family home there is only one of a number of Ronaldo’s upmarket bases. He also has two city-centre crash pads in Lisbon – one of which is the most expensive penthouse apartments ever sold in the country – and a £7 million renovation on the island where he was born, Madeira.
The Al-Nassr player purchased the former warehouse in 2015 and spent £7m renovating the seven-storey mansion, where his mother Dolores and brother Hugo are thought to live.
Three of the property’s floors are thought to be below-ground, and while little is known about the number of bedrooms in the palace, the grounds have two swimming pools, and an indoor football pitch for training.
For trips away from the hustle and bustle of the city, Ronaldo is also believed to have purchased a £1.4m holiday villa in La Resina, a golf and country club estate between Marbella and Estepona.
The four-bedroom complex includes an infinity swimming pool with views of the Mediterranean – but even that is outclassed by his most recent purchase, a mega-mansion worth ‘tens of millions’ on Jumeirah Bay Island.
The 30,000 square-metre villa has six bedrooms, private access to the beach, a showroom for seven cars, a spa, a swimming pool with a view of downtown Dubai and accommodation for employees on site.
The most expensive watch in his collection is the Girard-Perregaux Planetarium Tri-Axial Tourbillon Rose Gold with Diamonds
His partner shared pictures of the new Bombadier jet ahead of a recent trip to the North Pole
The Madrid mansion in the La Finca development was the 39-year-old’s base for much of his career with Los Blancos
In addition to his extensive property portfolio, the former Real Madrid star has splashed his considerable wealth on an array of watches, cars and even a jet.
The latter, a new Bombadier Global Express 6500, set him back an eye-popping £61m in 2024. The all-black aircraft has the capacity for up to 15 passengers, and features a number of different rooms, including a seating area with tables and sofas, a suite with a double bed, and a separate shower area.
Ronaldo’s influencer girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez has often thrilled her millions of social media followers with glimpses into the pricey jet. The 31-year-old recently showed off a gigantic engagement ring that could indicate another big-budget purchase is on the horizon.
The couple have been in a relationship since 2016 and have daughters Alana, seven, and two-year-old Bella together. She is also the stepmother of his other three children.
The family have been known to enjoy trips on the high seas aboard the £5.5m mega yacht Azimut Grande. The vessel boasts space for eight guests in five cabins, with six luxurious bathrooms, and the Ronaldo clan have been spotted visiting a number of idyllic Mediterranean destinations on the boat, which is named for its model.
However, on the pitch, Ronaldo’s individual success has not led to team honours.
The veteran scored 14 goals in 16 matches after joining Al-Nassr in January 2023, which he followed up with 44 in 45 in all competitions in his first full campaign. This term, Ronaldo has continued to find the back of the net at an alarming rate and once again leads the Saudi Pro League goalscoring charts with 23 goals.
But all those goals – and all that cash – have yielded precisely zero trophies. It’s difficult to believe given that Al-Nassr’s squad includes a host of former European stars, including Sadio Mane, Marcelo Brozovic, Aymeric Laporte and big-money January signing Jhon Duran.
Ronaldo and his family frequently take in the Mediterranean from the star’s 27-metre yacht
Al-Nassr are facing another season without silverware after crashing out of the Asian Champions League last month
Yes, several of the top sides in the nation have their own impressive raft of talented mercenaries but Al-Nassr have three to four opportunities to bolster the club’s trophy cabinet every season.
Indeed, it appears that confirmation of Al-Nassr’s latest trophyless campaign, which came after a shock defeat in the Asian Champions League, has sparked speculation that Ronaldo might just have had enough with it all.
Following the 3-2 defeat by Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale, Ronaldo issued an emotional statement.
He had squandered a chance to draw level on the night with seconds to go, but despite rounding the goalkeeper he stumbled at the last and was unable to equalise in dramatic fashion.
‘Sometimes the dream has to wait,’ he wrote on X. ‘I’m proud of this team and everything we gave on the pitch.
‘Thank you to all the fans who believed in us and stood by us every step of the way. Your support means the world’.
Days later, a 3-2 defeat to league leaders Al-Ittihad saw the club fall to fourth in the standings. Ronaldo was said to have been so frustrated by the result – which saw his side collapse after taking a two-goal lead – that he left the stadium without getting changed out of his kit.
Al-Nassr has since climbed to third in the table but they still face a tough task to ensure they’re in the Champions League next year.
The Portuguese’s individual successes have not transferred over to the team in Saudi Arabia
Al-Nassr are just a point ahead of the chasing pack knowing a slip in their last three games will turn a disappointing campaign into a disaster.
With the clock ticking on his current deal, Ronaldo will need to make a decision on his future quickly, though, it’s hard to see him plying his trade anywhere else at this stage of his career and he has made it clear he’s not quite ready to hang up his boots.
The superstar has his sights set on one final World Cup with Portugal in 2026 and the equally ambitious goal of reaching 1000 professional goals.
A switch to a Saudi Pro League rival has been mooted but what is clear is that in spite of all his move to the oil-rich state has afforded, Ronaldo is still searching for his greatest treasure.
