Lionel Messi made $100 million more than Cristiano Ronaldo
The Portuguese superstar became the highest paid athlete in the world when he decided to join Saudi side Al Nassr in December.
Lionel Messi’s Paris Saint-Germain will face Cristiano Ronaldo’s Riyadh All Stars on Thursday and this will be the debut of the Portuguese ace since joining the Saudi Pro League side in December. These two have dominated the sport in the last decade and this has been the biggest rivalry that will see them going head-to-head in the Saudi Arabian capital.
The last time Messi and Ronaldo played each other was on December 8, 2020 when Juventus defeated FC Barcelona 3-0 in the last matchday of the UEFA Champions League group stage games. So expectation is high to see them once again battle on the field because this could possibly be the last time they face each other.
Messi and Ronaldo have played against each other a total of 37 times for club and country. From the Champions League final between Barcelona and Manchester United, to El Clásico between Real Madrid and Barcelona and even at the international level between Argentina and Portugal.
Messi made $100 million more than Ronaldo
The rivalry between both players has also been compared in their annual salary for over a decade and with the contract that Cristiano Ronaldo signed with Al Nassr, he now has the upper hand. The Portuguese international became the highest paid athlete in the world when he joined the Saudi side but he ended 2022 earning a total of $500 million according to Forbes.
While Lionel Messi finished last year earning a total of $600 million, meaning that he surpassed the Portuguese star by $100 million according to Forbes. But Cristiano Ronaldo has nothing to worry about because in 2023 he will increase his earnings at least by $200 million because of joining Al Nassr.