Cristiano Ronaldo's fine equals 40 seconds of pay

Cristiano Ronaldo’s disciplinary punishment in Portugal will have almost no effect on his finances. The €255 fine is equivalent to about 40 seconds of the annual salary he is estimated to earn at Al-Nassr, reported at €200 million.

The Portuguese Football Federation’s disciplinary council also imposed a 30-day suspension on the 41-year-old forward. The case followed his departure from Portugal’s national-team camp before the Nations League fixture against Denmark in Copenhagen on September 30.

The suspension should be completed before Portugal’s next meetings with Denmark on November 14 and Wales on November 17. Ronaldo will therefore remain eligible for a possible November recall by coach Jorge Jesus, although the final decision will rest with the national-team coach.

The relatively limited punishment took account of three mitigating elements. Ronaldo’s contribution to Portuguese football and the honours he has collected during his career were considered, along with his cooperation during the proceedings. He admitted the conduct and issued a public apology. The sanction leaves the sporting consequence short of preventing him from being available for Portugal’s next scheduled Nations League matches.