Cristiano Ronaldo already has his own museum and an airport named after him on his home island of Madeira, but now he will also be immortalized on a coin. Portugal is set to release a €7 coin featuring the image of its greatest football icon, celebrating his extraordinary achievements on the world stage.
The €7 coin, inspired by Ronaldo’s iconic shirt number, has already been predicted to become a major hit. Described as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” for collectors, this limited-edition coin, bearing the image of Ronaldo and embossed with his famous ‘CR7’ brand, could fetch up to €135,000—or around $150,000—on the secondary market.
Though its face value is €7, and it can be used as currency, its true worth lies in its limited availability, the gold content, and, of course, the name of Cristiano Ronaldo. Portugal’s most famous footballer recently became the world’s first person to cross 1 billion followers across all social media networks, and his huge following is expected to attract enormous interest from both fans and collectors.
Ronaldo’s connection to the number seven has been a constant throughout his career, since his days at Manchester United, where he first emerged as a global superstar. From there, he moved to Real Madrid, where he solidified his place as one of the greatest players of all time. His subsequent stints at Juventus and his return to Manchester United before his current stint in Saudi Arabia have all seen him wear the number seven jersey, making it synonymous with his brand.
There is no denying that Ronaldo’s career is worthy of such a tribute. At 39, the Portuguese forward has scored 130 goals for his national team, an unprecedented tally that solidifies his place as one of the greatest footballers in history. His career is littered with historic moments, including leading Portugal to victory in the 2016 UEFA European Championship and the UEFA Nations League trophy in 2019. Portugal’s decision to mint a coin in his honor cements Ronaldo’s legacy in the country’s culture and history. It is a testament not only to his impact on football but also to his standing as a national hero.
The release of the coin comes at a time when Ronaldo continues to break records. Earlier this month, he scored his 900th career goal during a UEFA Nations League match against Scotland, edging closer to becoming the first man to score 1,000 professional goals. Ronaldo’s remarkable longevity and unparalleled scoring ability have kept him in the spotlight for over two decades, and there’s no sign of him slowing down. He now plays for Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, continuing to add to his already incredible resume.
Will the average person use this coin as currency? Probably not. Its value as a collector’s item far outweighs its practical use. The combination of Ronaldo’s immense popularity, the coin’s limited availability, and the allure of owning a piece of football history make it more likely that these coins will end up in display cases rather than cash registers. And for Ronaldo, it’s yet another way his legacy will endure—long after he’s hung up his boots.
