Ronaldo set to become first footballer to join elite ‘billionaire’ club

• The business magazine reported that the 35-year-old earns around £36m a year from his endorsements.

Cristiano Ronaldo, despite his temporary salary cut at Juventus, is all set to become the first footballer to join the elite ‘billionaire’ club of athletes.

The Portuguese legend has taken a pay cut of £3.45million, which, in line with the rest of his Juve team-mates, will help the Serie A giants save up to £100m from March until May.

However, the striker has other projects off the field that cash-in on his profile as one of the best footballers in the history of the game, means he is still on the brink of taking his career earnings into billions this year.

Forbes reports that Ronaldo earned a staggering £89m last year but his Juventus wages accommodate for marginally over half of that income at about £53m, once bonuses are all counted.

The business magazine added that the 35-year-old earns around £36m a year from his endorsements, including Nike sponsorship, underwear brand and an array of other advertising projects such as footwear and cologne. The talisman also featured on the cover of FIFA 19 video game.

And with his earnings from those ventures all still set to roll in this year, means the five-time Ballon d'Or winner is in line to become footballs first billion dollar man.

He will be the only third sportsman to crack $1billion mark after boxer Floyd Mayweather and golfer Tiger Woods, who both had much longer careers then Ronaldo.

Since the coronavirus outbreak that has halted football in Italy and eventually across Europe, Ronaldo has been self-isolating in Madeira with his family.

Three of Ronaldo's Juventus team-mates - Blaise Matuidi, Paulo Dybala and Daniele Rugani - have tested positive for coronavirus.