Ronaldo reaps Real reward

Superstar eyes another decade of dominance after agreeing to five-year contract extension

Cristiano Ronaldo poses with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez at Santiago Bernabeu stadium after Monday's signing ceremony for Ronaldo's five-year contract extension. Susana Vera / Reuters

Cristiano Ronaldo signaled his intention to keep playing for another decade after rounding off a "dream year" by signing a five-year contract extension with Real Madrid on Monday.

The deal, expected to protect Ronaldo's status as the world's highest paid soccer player, will keep the Portuguese tied to the European champion until he is 36.

"What I most want is to continue enjoying the years I have left to play. I still have 10 years," Ronaldo said.

Details of Ronaldo's new deal were not released, but according to American magazine Forbes, he topped Barcelona rival Lionel Messi as the world's best paid soccer player this year with an income of $88 million.

The three-time World Player of the Year has enjoyed his most successful year at a collective level, scoring the winning penalty as Madrid won the Champions League for an 11th time in May before captaining Portugal to its first major tournament title at Euro 2016.

"After the season I've had, to win the Champions League, the Euros and then renewing my contract with Real Madrid, it is something I never imagined. It is a dream year," he said.

Ronaldo is the latest Madrid star to ink a contract extension in recent weeks.

Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos also agreed to lucrative renewals as the club prepares to serve a one-year transfer ban imposed by FIFA.

UK media reports say Bale's new six-year deal will earn the Welshman as much as $725,000 a week before tax.

Ronaldo has scored 371 goals in 360 games in his eight seasons since swapping Manchester United for Madrid for a then world record fee of $102 million in 2009, making him the club's all-time leading scorer.