Ronaldo and Messi's first contracts come to light showing huge difference

10 February 2024 , 07:37

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Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo last played against each-other in January 2023 (Image: Getty Images)

Details of Cristiano Ronaldo's first Sporting CP contract and Lionel Messi's initial Barcelona deal have come to light.

Ronaldo, 39, started his career in Lisbon and made his first-team debut in August 2002 during a Champions League qualifying game against Inter Milan. He caught the eye in his maiden campaign in the Sporting senior set-up and earned himself a £12million move to Manchester United in August 2003.

Messi, 36, joined Barcelona's youth system from Newell's Old Boys in 2000 and progressed through the club's academy before making his senior bow four years later. The Argentine claimed his first major trophy by winning the La Liga title after making seven appearances in the 2004/05 season.

But how much did they earn? According to the Daily Mail, Ronaldo collected a yearly wage of £860,000 after signing his maiden professional deal. The forward more than doubled his pay packet upon his move to United as he picked up a healthy annual salary of £1.8m after moving to Manchester.

As for Messi, the attacking midfielder took home a mere £516 per-month as a youth player at Barcelona, according to El Futbolero. His wage vastly increased when he signed his first professional contract in February 2004, pocketing £2.6m per year. That was an eight-year deal, with Barca initially containing a buyout clause of €30m which automatically rose to €80m when he made his debut for the club's B team.

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Both players have since gone on to become superstars of the game, winning no less than 13 Ballon d'Ors and 13 Champions League titles between them. Messi and Ronaldo rank one and two in the La Liga and European Cup all-time top scorers chart, as well as in a number of other categories.

Ronaldo, who joined Real Madrid from United for a world record transfer fee at the time of £80m in 2009, has gone on to score 745 club competitive goals, adding a further 146 for his nation. He spent nine years at Real, before moving to Juventus and returning to the Red Devils for a 15-month stint.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi back in 2014 (Getty Images)

Now, Ronaldo is currently plying his trade in Saudi Arabia at Al-Nassr. The Portuguese superstar is showing no signs of slowing down despite turning 39 earlier this month, having scored 30 goals in 31 appearances this season. And according to Forbes, Ronaldo is still among the highest earners in the game, with his three-year deal at Al-Nassr worth around £175m.

Meanwhile, Messi was an influential figure in the Barcelona side for over a decade, scoring a bucketful of goals while also assisting his team-mates. Between 2009/10 and 2018/19, Messi registered over 40 goals for Barcelona in each campaign, winning a catalogue of major trophies in the process.

Messi departed Barcelona in August 2021 to join Paris Saint-Germain. He lasted two years in the French capital, before venturing out to the MLS with Inter Miami last summer. According to Marca, Messi is pocketing £43m in Miami. He scored 11 times in 14 matches during the 2023 season.

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Kieran King