Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Lionel Messi: Comparing Both Superstars' First Salaries

• Cristiano Ronaldo earned more than Lionel Messi when their careers started
• Messi earned his first salary at Barcelona while Ronaldo came through from Sporting Lisbon
• The superstars are two of the highest-earning players in world football today

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are considered two of the greatest footballers of all time, earning among the biggest salaries in world football at the moment.

The rivalry between the pair has seen their stock rise greatly in the last two decades after they reached football’s pinnacle of success with various trophies won throughout their careers.

According to National Business, Forbes puts Ronaldo’s lifetime earnings at $1.24 billion, as the Al-Nassr forward is estimated to have a net worth of $500 million after tax.

The total does not account for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s Al-Nassr salary. Meanwhile, Messi, by contrast, has a net worth of around $600 million, as estimated by Celebrity Net Worth.

Lionel Messi's net worth, contract, Instagram, salary, house, cars, age, stats, latest news

Football

Messi’s earnings over the past 12 months have been evenly split, with his on-field and off-field incomes totalling $65 million each.

Ronaldo and Messi’s first salaries compared

Meanwhile, Lionel Messi earned a meagre £6000 per year during his youth days in Barcelona, while Cristiano Ronaldo’s first professional contract with Sporting earned him £860,000 a year, Sportskeeda reports.

The Argentina forward’s salary was significantly boosted once he signed his first professional contract with the Catalan club, rising to £2.6million per year. In contrast, Ronaldo’s income increased to £1.82million per year when he joined Manchester United in 2003.

Ronaldo’s current contract with Al-Nassr sees the Portugal superstar make a whopping £86million-per-year compared to Messi's £43million annual salary at Inter Miami.

Ronaldo to sue Juventus over wages

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Cristiano Ronaldo is preparing to file a lawsuit against Juventus for a substantial sum of £17 million in unpaid wages.

Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer: Is CR7 leaving Manchester United and which clubs are likely to acquire him?

Football

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner had agreed to defer his salary with the Italian club to assist with their financial challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Portuguese veteran has already approached the prosecutor's office in Turin and has since decided to take action against the Italian giants.