Cristiano Ronaldo Purchases Apartment in New York Worth USD 18.5 Million

Cristiano Ronaldo has bought a luxury apartment in New York worth USD 18.5 million.

Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has bought a luxury apartment in New York for a staggering USD 18.5 million. (Is Cristiano Ronaldo the Greatest Footballer of all Time?)

The Real Madrid striker, ranked by Forbes as the highest paid team athlete in the world, has purchased a 2,509 square feet compound in Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, according to a report in the New York Post.

The exclusive apartment, which reportedly inspired the setting of the novel '50 Shades of Grey', belonged to Alessandro Proto, an Italian real estate tycoon and business partner of owner and Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump.

The three-bedroom apartment is situated on 5th Avenue, 56th Street and is regarded as one of Manhattan's most prestigious and secure places to live.

Trump Tower residents have access to a large fitness centre, in-house valet services and the building's restaurant, bar and shops.

In May, Forbes rated Ronaldo as the world's highest paid team athlete and the highest paid footballer after earning USD 79 million last year in salary, bonus and endorsements, putting him ahead of his rival, Argentine football icon Lionel Messi.

In pictures: Cristiano Ronaldo buys $18.5m Trump Tower apartment that 'inspired 50 Shades of Grey'

The big-money property is in the tower owned by US tycoon and presidential candidate Donald Trump, on New York's Fifth Avenue

Cristiano Ronaldo has completed the purchase of an $18.5million (£11.8m) flat in New York that was reportedly the inspiration behind the novel '50 Shades of Grey'.

The big-money property is in 'Trump Tower' owned by US tycoon and presidential candidate Donald Trump, on Fifth Avenue in the Big Apple.

The news has again fuelled the rumours that Ronaldo wants to play in the US before he retires.

A move to LA Galaxy was touted by Sports Illustrated when Ronaldo's Real Madrid contract expires in 2018, while nascent franchise LAFC are known to be "obsessed" with his signing.

But his newest purchase may make the ears of the hierarchies at New York City FC and New York Red Bulls prick up.

Season-opener:Cristiano Ronaldo vies with Sporting Gijon's Nacho Cases on Sunday

Entrance: A security guard and a doorman outside Trump Tower

Living room: Almost every single room has superb views of New York

Dining room: Mind you don't get vertigo

Kitchen: It's not very big for that kind of money

Office: You'd probably spend a lot of time staring out that window

The flat was bought from Italian real-estate mogul Alessandro Proto, a partner of Trump.

And it was Proto's old apartment, the New York Post reports, that was the inspiration for sex-obsessed sadist Christian Grey in the novel 50 Shades of Grey, written by E.L. James.

The Real Madrid star's new pad is spread out over 2,509 square feet and features views of Central Park.

Plush: The hallway in Ronaldo's new flat

TV room: This is where he'll, er..

Bathroom: Plenty of mirrors - perfect for Cristiano

Bedroom: This is where the magic happens (sorry)

Central park: A room with a view

Bathroom: It's not often you get a window that big in the shower

Cristiano Ronaldo Puts His Un-Retouched Body on Display in New Underwear Ad Campaign—See the Hot Pics!

Cristiano Ronaldo is celebrating the launch of his fourth CR7 underwear collection in the only way he should be honoring it—posing shirtless, of course. But the soccer star is taking his ad campaign to the next level by going where many would never go.

Rather than release photoshopped images of himself modeling his underwear, Ronaldo opted to share un-retouched pictures. That's right, the images you see are all Ronaldo in his real and natural glory. Those insane abs? All real. The chiseled muscles? Not photoshopped! The athlete poses in some of his favorite soccer positions to show consumers just how versatile his line of unmentionables really is.

"The new campaign is all about body movement. The product features the lightest and most comfortable materials and has a great fit, no matter how your body moves, so we really wanted to bring this to life," he explains. "The way the product looks is key, but how it fits is equally important."

In one photo, Ronaldo prepares to kick an imaginary soccer ball while wearing royal blue boxer briefs with orange stripes. In another, the Portuguese star looks ready for anything while donning his blue and red grid-style underwear. As expected, the CR7 label is front and center, just above his un-retouched bulge.

In a previous campaign for his underwear line, Ronaldo opened up about his workouts that keep him in tip-top shape. Giving fans and aspiring athletes his best and most accessible tips, Ronaldo advised:

-Set yourself goals. It will help to keep you focused and work towards something.

-Working with a training partner is a good way to add a bit of competitiveness and help push yourself. If you train with someone who is a similar level to you then you will help push each other.

- Proper sleep is really important for getting the most out of training. Sleep helps muscles recover which is really important.

-Warming up properly prevents injury.

-Mix it up. I recommend a combination of cardio (running and rowing) and weight training to ensure that workouts target all areas of the body and increase both strength and stamina. It also helps to keep it interesting.

At this point, we'll pretty much do anything if it gets us looking this good!