Mystic Mac: McGregor set to overtake Ronaldo on Forbes list 1 year after prediction
Irish combat sports star Conor McGregor is set to overtake football icon Cristiano Ronaldo in the Forbes athletic rich list following his fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Often self-titled Mystic Mac for his outlandish pre-fight prophecies, McGregor made the prediction he would overtake the Real Madrid ace on the list when the two met at McGregor’s Las Vegas training camp ahead of his rematch with Nate Diaz last year. McGregor was highly complimentary of Ronaldo’s physical and financial attributes.
“My brother Ronaldo dropped by the gym today! He is an animal. Thank you Cristiano, much respect! I will see you for that Forbes number 1 spot next year,” ‘The Notorious’ wrote in an Instagram post.
Back then, Ronaldo sat atop the list with $88 million annual earnings, while McGregor, the first MMA fighter to be included on the list, occupied 85th spot with $22 million.
The Portugal national team captain is reported to have responded to the prediction with the simple remark, “I don’t think so.”
However, McGregor is reportedly set to earn $100 million from his mega fight with Mayweather, in which he suffered a 10th-round technical knockout defeat, which means he is set to leapfrog the current holder of the Ballon d’Or.
Ronaldo, who defended the UEFA Champions League title with Real Madrid in June, is currently ranked 1st on the Forbes list with $71 million in earnings. Ronaldo’s income includes huge sponsorship deals with Nike, shampoo giant Clear, EA Sports and most recently with Egyptian Steel.
The crossover fight has also allowed Mayweather to become the richest boxer ever, after pocketing an estimated $300 million and improving his professional record to 50-0.
READ MORE: The Money Man: Mayweather set to join billionaire athletes club
That figure also meant ‘Money’ will join the billionaire athletes’ club, Forbes reported, keeping company with the likes of Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan.
Mayweather reportedly added to his earnings with the profits from a $750,000 bet placed on himself ahead of Saturday’s fight. The multi-weight world champion boxer will eclipse both Ronaldo and McGregor at the top of the list with his extraordinary earnings figures.
