Cristiano Ronaldo’s brand could see a $100m surge in the US following a high-profile White House visit, potentially eclipsing the commercial empires of rivals Lionel Messi and David Beckham.
According to a report from the Express.co.uk, Cristiano Ronaldo, named the richest active footballer, could see his massive fortune rise even further following a high-profile visit to the White House.
The Portuguese superstar, whose stellar career spanned clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al-Nassr, is currently estimated to have a net worth of around $1.4 billion (£1 billion).
This wealth, in part due to his new contract with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, which is reportedly valued at over $400m (£306m), far surpasses the combined £500m net worth of David and Victoria Beckham, as well as Lionel Messi’s reported fortune of $850m (£650m).
Ronaldo, who made history by becoming the first active footballer to reach billionaire status, visited the White House State Banquet this week.
Professor Rob Wilson, Director of Executive Education at University Campus of Football Business, suggested that this appearance could cement a more powerful brand for Ronaldo than those of David Beckham and Lionel Messi.
Speaking to Vegas Insider, Professor Wilson commented: “Ronaldo already operates as a billion-dollar global asset.
But that White House moment will add political relevance and some hugely important US visibility which are powerful brand signals.”
He noted that when Donald Trump frames Ronaldo as a “family favourite of his son, it humanises his image and broadens sponsor appeal.”
Wilson estimates that “The earned media impact from such exposure would likely sit in the mid eight-figure range, with a small uplift to endorsement pricing in a portfolio already producing well over $60m (£45.9m) a year.”
He concluded that “We can expect CR7 to press on toward $100m (£76.5m) endorsements in the US as a result of his invitation and appearance at the banquet.”
The report also compared this event to Messi’s business activities, noting that Messi’s brand value is already “approaching $1bn (£765m) in value,” with his presence at high-level business forums positioning him for equity stakes and long-term partnerships.
However, the report concluded that both Ronaldo and Messi “now sit on larger global platforms with bigger fan ecosystems and deeper earning power” than Beckham, who “still sets the standard for turning fame into a lifestyle empire.”