Cristiano Ronaldo Wins Final Court Battle Over Juventus’ Pandemic Wage Dispute
Cristiano Ronaldo has finally closed the chapter on his long legal fight with Juventus. The Turin Labor Court ruled once again in his favor, rejecting the club’s latest appeal and confirming that the Portuguese star will keep the €9.8 million already awarded to him.
The case has dragged on for five years, beginning in 2021 when Ronaldo sought unpaid wages from the Covid-19 pandemic period. Juventus, struggling financially at the time, asked players to defer part of their salaries. Ronaldo left for Manchester United soon after, but pursued the matter in court to recover what he believed was owed.
Momentum shifted in 2023, and by April 2024 the Arbitration Panel of the Court of Justice of Turin delivered a decisive ruling. The judges ordered Juventus to pay €9.8 million, half of the €19.6 million demanded by Ronaldo’s lawyers. The club appealed, hoping to overturn the decision, but the latest judgment has shut the door. Juventus must also cover the legal costs of the failed appeal.
This dispute was not unique to Ronaldo. Other players, including Paulo Dybala, also sought compensation for unpaid wages. Dybala eventually reached a settlement that paved the way for his move to Roma.
Ronaldo’s time in Turin was marked by both brilliance and controversy. Signed in July 2018 for €100 million plus additional charges, he delivered on the pitch with 133 appearances, 101 goals, 20 assists, and five domestic titles. Yet the pandemic exposed the financial cracks at Juventus, leading to years of courtroom battles that have only now reached their conclusion.
For Ronaldo, the verdict is vindication. For Juventus, it is another reminder of the costly fallout from the pandemic era. The saga underscores how even Europe’s biggest clubs were not immune to financial strain, and how the world’s most famous players were willing to fight for what they believed was rightfully theirs.