In just 90 minutes, he reached 1 million subscribers, then four days later, he reached 43 million subscribers.🔥
But there is a surprising trend beneath all this
Ronaldo post a message to his fans on Instagram:-
"My YouTube channel is finally here! Subscribe and join me on this new journey."
24 hours later, internet records had been broken.
But here is what most people missed:
This wasn't just about YouTube views. It was about something much bigger.
A shift that changed the game for athletes worldwide.
But first, talk about numbers for a second,
1 million subscribers in a couple of hours.
10 million in 12 hours.
25 million in just over a day.
For context: It took MrBeast 14 YEARS to hit 100 million.
At this rate, Ronaldo could surpass him in months.
But here's the kicker:
This isn't even Ronaldo's main focus.
So why bother? 🤨
Two words: Brand & Value
Ronaldo's not just a footballer. He's a business empire.
• CR7 brand: $247M revenue in 2023
• Lifetime Nike deal: $1 billion
• Social media value: $4.3M per post
The YouTube channel? It's just the latest piece of the puzzle.
But Ronaldo's not alone in this game.
Tom Brady, LeBron James, Steph Curry...
All making similar moves.
Why? Because they've figured out a crucial truth:- Sports careers are fleeting. But attention?
Think about it:
Athletes get millions of eyeballs on them during their careers. But they capture only a fraction of that value.
YouTube channels, podcasts, social media...
These are how to monetize attention long-term.
But there's more to it:
It's about control.
Athletes are tired of being at the mercy of:
• team contracts
• Sponsor demands
• Media narratives
By building their platforms, they control their own stories.
And the payoff? Massive.