While Ronaldo is regarded as the first and only active football player who is a billionaire, many assume that the second player closest to the Portuguese star is Lionel Messi. Both Ronaldo and Messi are regarded as the most well-known players in the world, despite both players no longer playing in Europe.

Lionel Messi’s nephew opens up on the hidden cost behind his fame originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

When Messi doesn't score for Mascherano's team, Miami rarely wins. That's a problem in the regular season, but perhaps not the MLS Cup Playoffs.

This Wednesday (8), the Bloomberg Billionaires Index updated its list and confirmed a net worth of 1.4 billion dollars for the Portuguese star, making him the first football player to become a billionaire. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index is a ranking of the 500 richest people in the world.