Ronaldo 'worth £1bn in his prime' with Mbappe and Bellingham told to be grateful

Cristiano Ronaldo would have been worth more than £1 billion at his peak, according to a leading football finance expert.

Kieran Maguire, a lecturer at the University of Liverpool, believes the 37-year-old Portuguese superstar would have been worth in excess of £1bn if he was playing in his prime today.

Ronaldo is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, and he has won five Ballon d'Or awards, five Champions League titles and seven league titles in England, Spain and Italy.

Mbappe and Bellingham told to be grateful for Ronaldo's Real Madrid influence

Maguire's comments come as Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham are being linked with moves to Real Madrid.

Mbappe, 23, is one of the most exciting young players in the world, and he has been linked with a move to the Bernabeu for several years.

Bellingham, 19, is another highly-rated youngster, and he has been linked with a move to Real Madrid in recent months.

Maguire believes that both players should be grateful for the influence that Ronaldo has had on Real Madrid.

"Ronaldo has been a huge influence on Real Madrid," Maguire said.

"He has helped to make them one of the most successful clubs in the world, and he has also helped to develop the careers of many young players.

"Mbappe and Bellingham should be grateful for the opportunity to play for Real Madrid, and they should also be grateful for the influence that Ronaldo has had on the club."