CR7 becomes football's 1st MULTI-BILLIONAIRE: £225m-a-year earnings in Saudi keep Portugal star top

Cristiano Ronaldo has become football's first multi-billionaire after the veteran forward raked in £225million this year, according to Forbes.

The Portuguese legend reportedly passed the $2billion mark in career earnings earlier this year, just six years after he was the first footballer to surpass $1billion.

Ronaldo's status comes as he again topped Forbes' football rich list, aided by the 41-year-old continuing to earn a lucrative salary at Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, estimated at £488,000-per-day.

Forbes has determined that Ronaldo has also earned £42million off the pitch over the course of the year, which has come via endorsements and his business ventures.

Ronaldo's off the pitch earnings alone would surpass the total earnings of all but four of his peers.

Confirmation of Ronaldo's continued position at the top of the rich list comes just days after he was fined a measly £215 by Portugal for walking out of their national team during the recent international window.

Ronaldo is joined in the top two by his longtime rival Lionel Messi, with the pair occupying the highest two positions for the 12th time in the last 13 years.

Inter Miami star Messi is estimated to have earned £109million over the past year and is expected to soon join Ronaldo in passing the $2billion career earnings milestone.

The Argentine legend's total consists of over £52million in on pitch earnings, boosted by a further £56million from sponsorships and commercial deals.

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, who briefly jumped above the pair into top spot when he signed a contract extension at PSG in 2022, occupies third place on the list at £75million.

Manchester City's Erling Haaland and Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr complete the top five with total earnings of £64million and £57million respectively.

Vinicius Jr's earnings have jumped from £44million last year to £57million in the new list, after the Real Madrid star signed a new six-year contract in August.

The jump is also attributed to him becoming the face of Brazil's national team in place of Neymar.

World Cup winner Lamine Yamal features on the list in sixth place, with the Barcelona teenager reported to have earned £41million over the past year.

Yamal's earnings are narrowly ahead of Sadio Mane and Jude Bellingham, who banked £40million.

Former Liverpool forward Mane joins his Al-Nassr team-mate Ronaldo on the list, with the pair benefiting from the lucrative contracts they signed with the Saudi side.

Bellingham is followed by his England team-mate Harry Kane, with the Ballon d'Or contender receiving £31million over the past year.

Kane's earnings could grow further with the England captain expected to sign a lucrative contract extension at Bayern Munich, while he is also Skechers' primary football ambassador.

The top ten is completed by Mohamed Salah, despite the Liverpool legend agreeing to tear up the final year of his contract in the summer.

Salah, who is estimated to have earned £30million this year, ultimately joined Turkish side Trabzonspor as a free agent.

Trabzonspor confirmed details of Salah's lucrative contract after his arrival, which include a guaranteed £14.5million per season, as well as performance bonuses.

Salah is also entitled to a 20 per cent share of revenues from products sold by the club featuring his name.