Cristiano Ronaldo has broken a lot of walls recently, as he went on to sign one of the most lucrative contracts in sports history. The Portuguese soccer legend was once compared to the likeness of Michael Jordan by his admirer and a star of his former team Manchester United. Although the Soccer legend’s achievements cannot be compared to His Airness but does Ronaldo earn as much as the Chicago Bulls legend??
Ronaldo was once called soccer’s ‘Michael Jordan’ by Jesse Lingard, a former Manchester United star. The Portuguese legend’s recent contract might actually put some weight on the argument.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s $200 Million contract might put him in the standard of Michael Jordan
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Both of the superstars are legends of their sports. Hence, they earned contracts that perfectly defined their legacy in the sport. Michael Jordan’s most expensive contract earned him $33 Million in 1998. Although it was 24 years ago, Ronaldo just dwarfed that figure by earning almost six times that.?
Cristiano Ronaldo signed a two-year deal with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. According to reports by The Athletic, the soccer star will earn $214 Million a year in Riyadh.
Ronaldo left everyone in sports history behind as he earned an unprecedented $1 Billion in career earnings in 2020. Although this may sound like a lot, he isn’t as rich as MJ. According to Forbes, His Airness is worth $1.7 Billion as of 2022. While in comparison, Ronaldo is worth $500 Million.?
The disparity might shock the fans, but it is mostly due to Jordan’s business moves outside basketball. The Bulls legend’s work with the Jordan Brand has increased his wealth exponentially. The soccer legend also has his ‘CR7’ brand which deals in various sectors. But the reach isn’t the same as Jordan.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Granted, the ‘Jordan? brand has been out for a longer time than CR7. The NBA legend retired in 2003, after changing the basketball scene forever. His $33 Million a year contract changed a lot of things in sports itself.
Reasons behind Jordan’s record-breaking contract in 1998
His Airness earned just short of $10 Million during the first three-peat of the Bulls. After his first retirement in 1993, the legend came back in 1995.?
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Watch This Story: Two months after shocking retirement Kurt Busch gets huge Michael Jordan surprise during holiday season
This time Jordan realized his worth, as he didn’t budge from his desire of being the highest-paid basketball player. MJ had delivered three championship rings to the Bulls and realized he could do three more. This was the reason behind a $33 Million contract in 1997-98, which was a record till 2018.