Cristiano Ronaldo’s Mega Salary Exposed as Al Nassr Star Goes on Strike

Cristiano Ronaldo has found himself at the centre of growing tensions in Saudi Arabia after reportedly withdrawing his services in protest over Al Nassr’s transfer strategy, with details of his extraordinary salary now coming to light.

The Portuguese superstar was left out of the matchday squad on Monday as Al Nassr secured a 1–0 victory over Al Riyadh, courtesy of a goal from Sadio Mané. The win moved the club to within one point of Saudi Pro League leaders Al Hilal and marked their fifth consecutive league victory after a difficult start to the year.

Despite the positive result, Ronaldo took no part in the match. According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, the 39-year-old made himself unavailable for selection, having grown increasingly frustrated with what he perceives as a lack of ambition in the transfer market. While Al Nassr’s domestic rivals continue to invest heavily, Ronaldo reportedly believes his own club has failed to strengthen the squad adequately.

His frustration is said to be directed at Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which owns a 75 per cent stake in the country’s four major clubs — Al Nassr, Al Hilal, Al Ittihad and Al Ahli. Ronaldo is understood to feel that Al Nassr have not received the same level of backing as their title competitors.

Al Nassr’s only January signings were 21-year-old Iraqi midfielder Hayder Abdulkareem and Saudi striker Abdullah Al Hamdan. In contrast, Karim Benzema has departed Al Ittihad to join Al Hilal on a free transfer after reportedly refusing a contract extension he considered unacceptable.

It remains unclear whether Ronaldo will return for Friday night’s home clash against Al Ittihad, who will now be without Benzema. Despite the uncertainty, Ronaldo continues to hold the status of the highest-paid footballer in the world.

Reports suggest Benzema was earning £1.61 million per week at Al Ittihad — approximately £230,000 per day — before failing to agree on new terms. However, Ronaldo’s earnings dwarf even those figures.

Ronaldo is widely believed to be football’s first billionaire. Upon joining Al Nassr in 2022, he became the highest-paid player in the sport’s history with an annual salary of £177 million. He later secured a significant pay rise after signing a new two-year contract last summer.

According to The Sun, the deal is worth £492 million over two years, including a £24.5 million signing-on bonus, which is set to rise to £38 million in the second year of the contract. Ronaldo also negotiated performance-based incentives, earning £80,000 per goal and £40,000 per assist.

Additional bonuses include £4 million for winning the Saudi Pro League Golden Boot and £8 million should Al Nassr lift the league title. The report also claims Ronaldo owns a 15 per cent stake in the club, valued at approximately £33 million.

In total, Ronaldo’s basic salary equates to around £4.7 million per week — roughly £671,000 per day, £28,000 per hour, £465 per minute, or just under £8 per second.

Not a bad payday for a night spent on the sidelines.