Ronaldo - the £191m man! How Real's global superstar built up a fortune

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo gestures during the Champions League, Group F, soccer match between Real Madrid and Borrusia Dortmund at the Santiago Bernabeu. Photo / AP

He is, although Lionel Messi fans would argue, the best footballer on the planet. So it shouldn't be surprising in an age of untold worldwide wealth that Cristiano Ronaldo is also the richest.

What might come as a shock though is the extent of the fortune the 31-year-old Real Madrid megastar has amassed throughout his glittering career.

He has featured before on rich lists, compiled through educated guesswork, but now we know the true value of Ronaldo's worldwide empire of business and sponsorship interests that backs up his football career.

So where does the £191m come from? Brand CR7 is about so much more than what the two-time Ballon d'Or winner does on a football pitch, not that he isn't handsomely paid for his efforts for Real Madrid.

The Spanish giants rewarded their star player with a new, five-year deal in November, a contract which takes him past his 36th birthday. That deal is worth £365,000 a week, after tax. Then there is his 13-year association with Nike.

WAGES AND SPONSORSHIPS
Real Madrid contract: Signed a new five-year deal, worth £365,000-a-week after tax in November.

Nike: Ronaldo has been sponsored by Nike since 2003, and has worn more than 60 different versions of Nike's Mercurial boots.

He has a long-term endorsement deal with Nike that sees him tied to the brand 'for life'. Reports in America suggest the contract is similar to the $1billion lifetime agreement in place with NBA star LeBron James.

Armani: He replaced Manchester United icon David Beckham as the face of Armani. Ronaldo acts as a model for Emporio Armani men's underwear and Jeans.

Tag Heuer: He joined the luxury watch brand Tag Heuer in 2014, as long-term brand Ambassador. All of his endorsements, which also include Coca Cola among others, earned him £22million alone last year.

CR7: His personal brand of underwear - but now he has expanded it with different categories like sportswear, footwear and a sock collection.

CR7 hotels: The £54million investment has seen Ronaldo partner with the Pestana Hotel Group to launch four hotels. Prices at the Lisbon hotel start from €200 (£176) a night for one of the 82 standard rooms. The one-off 'CR7 suite' comes at a cost of €1,000 (£882) for the night.

Cristiano Ronaldo fragrances: The 31-year-old has two fragrances; Legacy and Legacy: The Private Edition. Prices range from £29-£55.

Training Gear Six Pad: Ronaldo stars in an ad for his Japanese ab machine, Training Gear Six Pad. It is a 'training' system that promises to deliver 'a stronger, more beautiful body' by sending 'electrical signals to directly stimulate and exercise the muscles'.