Neymar market value should be more than Cristiano Ronaldo

Neymar market value should be more than Cristiano Ronaldo

The raw amount of endorsements a player earns off the field is significant while considering their worth. But it doesn’t provide a clear picture of their inherent marketability. Based on endorsements as a part of earnings, social media presence and on-field performance, here is why Neymar has more marketable potential than Ronaldo.

Neymar market value should be more than Cristiano Ronaldo

In the world of professional sports, endorsement deals separate the best from the rest when it involves earnings. Roger Federer’s 10-year Nike deal yields him over $10 million annually. Cristiano Ronaldo has total $32 million from endorsements.

Some may be surprised to see Neymar ranked ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi. But his 61% of income  nearly doubles Ronaldo’s 36% and Messi’s 34% of income. Neymar is also the only active soccer player making more money off the pitch than on. In February, Fox Sports reported that Neymar, 24, had netted nearly twice as many goals as Ronaldo when he was of that age.

We can apply the same method to calculate the marketability of Neymar to various sports. There is a strong case that Maria Sharapova and Tiger Woods are also the most marketable players. In spite of her failed drug test and two-year suspension, Maria Sharapova stands as the most marketable athlete in tennis. However, she remains the highest earner. She does it as a part of income with 91% of her income come from off-field earnings.

At 24, Ronaldo, who is seven years Neymar’s senior, made $9 million from endorsements (That’s slightly more than $10 million, adjusted for inflation). Neymar currently makes $21 million from endorsements. He is also set to sign a new five-year contract with FC Barcelona.

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