Revealed: The Staggering Time It Would Take Cristiano Ronaldo to Clear His Jaw-Dropping Portugal Fine

Weeks after dramatically walking out of Portugal's national team camp, captain and football legend Cristiano Ronaldo has been handed a suspension and a fine. But it's difficult to say which penalty is more laughable.

The Portuguese Football Federation handed Ronaldo a 30-day ban and a €255 ($285.83) fine for his stunning departure just two games into the September–October international break. The fallout stemmed from a clash with new head coach Jorge Jesus, which Ronaldo later described as a "broken promise" that left him feeling "hurt."

The 30-day suspension, beginning Oct. 10—the date the Portuguese federation first issued Ronaldo a provisional suspension—means the striker becomes available again on Nov. 9, which (coincidentally?) aligns perfectly with the start of the November international window on the very same day. In effect, he won't miss a single international fixture. Ronaldo would be eligible for Portugal's remaining Nations League group stage games against Denmark and Wales on Nov. 14 and Nov. 17, respectively.

As for the €255 ($285.83) fine, it's staggeringly worth less than one minute of Ronaldo's earnings. The 41-year-old earns an estimated €208,400,000 ($233,000,000) per year from his base Al Nassr contract, according to Capology. That works out to a daily rate of approximately €571,000 ($640,000), and a per-minute rate of around €397 ($445). And that's before factoring in bonuses, business ventures, or his extensive endorsement portfolio.

So, in roughly 40 seconds of earnings, Ronaldo could comfortably cover the fine and still have enough change left over for a pastel de nata, the beloved Portuguese custard tart typically sold for between €1.20–€2.20 ($1.35–$2.37) at bakeries across Lisbon.

Ronaldo Actually Welcomed a More Damning Punishment

Ronaldo was full of remorse toward the nation and his teammates following his controversial walkout. High-profile supporters such as Rio Ferdinand and Piers Morgan defended him publicly, yet he not only anticipated a severe disciplinary response, but openly embraced it.

"Despite the complete breach of trust by the head coach, as those present during those conversations can confirm, I should not have acted that way," Ronaldo said earlier this month in a lengthy 1,700-word statement. "The responsibility is entirely mine. I apologize once more to the Portuguese people, but a broken promise carries, for me, a profound and defining weight."

He continued: "The consequences of my actions must be assessed and sanctioned by the Portuguese Football Federation. I believe the punishment should come without any mitigating circumstances. I am not just any player. I am the team captain, and that is an aggravating factor. I have already apologized, but I understand that actions must carry consequences. Anyone who has been in football as long as I have knows that, regardless of one's status, the rules apply equally to everyone."

The Portuguese Football Federation has, in fact, demonstrated that they do not.