If asked who the richest footballer in the world is, most people would probably immediately answer Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi.
I also initially thought so.
But after starting to look for data to make this documentary, I actually found that discussing Ronaldo’s wealth was much more interesting than just comparing nominal salaries.
Many people think Ronaldo’s wealth comes from his contract at Al Nassr. In fact, that is only one source of income.
Off the field, Ronaldo built a huge business empire. Starting from a lifetime contract with Nike, collaboration with various global brands, CR7 hotels, perfume products, clothing, investments, to social media which has hundreds of millions of followers. All of this produces income that continues to flow, even when one day he decides to retire.
What makes me even more curious is one thing.
In the modern era of football, is a player actually more valuable because of his playing ability, or because of the business value he can bring?
Today, clubs don’t just buy a player.
They buy public attention, jersey sales, sponsorships, broadcast rights, social media, and expansion opportunities into new markets.
This means that a footballer is now not just an athlete.
It is a company.
In this documentary I try to examine a side that is rarely discussed. It’s not about who the GOAT is, but how Cristiano Ronaldo built a fortune of hundreds of millions of dollars through a combination of football, business and personal branding over more than two decades.
If anyone is interested in discussing the economics behind the football industry, maybe this video can add a new perspective.
I’m also curious about your opinions at Kaskus.
In your opinion, in modern football, which is more valuable: the ability to play on the field, or the ability to build a brand that can make money even after retirement?
The problem is, if you look at current trends, it seems like these two things are increasingly difficult to separate.
