Rise of the ‘superwags’ building brand empires – from Cristiano Ronaldo’s savvy £20m partner to ‘Argentina’s Madonna’

ONCE footballers' wives and girlfriends were expected to be content with a life on the sidelines.

But now they’re just as likely to be making millions as their fellas.

The era of the “superwags” has been ushered in by Georgina Rodriguez, the partner of Man U ace Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 27-year-old has built up an estimated £20million empire after a string of international deals.

But she’s not the only one making a fortune.

From brainy lawyers to fashion brands and pop stardom - we reveal some of the WAGS who have careers to envy their footballer fellas.

Georgina Rodriguez

The mother-of-four had humble beginnings and worked as a nanny in London after studying English in London.

But Georgina now has turned herself into a reported £20million brand.

She met her boyfriend Cristiano Ronaldo, 36, when she was working as a saleswoman at Gucci in 2016 and he was still playing for Real Madrid.

It was “love at first sight” and the pair have gone on to have four children together - with two more on the way.

But Georgina has also been busy building her global business - boasting deals with Swiss cosmetic brand Gisada and Italian bikini firm Effek.

Since coming to the UK with Ronaldo - after his return to Manchester United earlier this year - she is expected to build on her deals with British fashion brands including Pretty Little Thing and yoga company Alo Yoga.

She’s also set to star in a new Netflix series about her life.

Oriana Sabatini

Multi-talented Oriana has amassed an estimated £4million fortune thanks to her pop career in South America.

The Buenos Aires-born beauty - the girlfriend of Juventus star Paulo Dyabla - began her modelling career at the age of 13 in her home country of Argentina, moving on to find fame as an actress.

The 25-year-old widened her appeal after starring in Uruguayan telenovela Porque te quiero así. 

In 2017 Oriana turned to music and released her first single Love Me Down Easy. 

Her music career has seen her heralded as “Argentina's answer to Madonna”.

She supported Ariana Grande on her Dangerous Woman tour in 2017, where she met her partner Dybala.

But wasn't confirmed until they posted a selfie together after the 2018 World Cup.

She says of 26-year-old Dybala: "He is what I look for in a partner, someone that values me and respects me.”

Wanda Nara

Once the queen of Italian TV, this stunning blonde has built herself an empire worth a reported £3million.

The Argentinian-born businesswoman runs her own beauty brand Wanda Nara Cosmetics and is launching her own fashion line.

The 29-year-old married PSG star Mauro Icardi in 2014, shortly after her divorce from his former Sampdoria teammate Maxi Lopez.

Eight months later, Mauro and Wanda welcomed their first child together, Francesca.

The relationship has been rocked by cheating scandals - but the pair have stuck together.

Wanda’s business savvy also sees her work as her husband’s football agent.

She says that "knowing all his dreams" has helped her to land huge transfer deals for her hubby.

Perrie Edwards

The award-winning Little Mix singer has been loved up with Liverpool’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for five years.

He was first spotted supporting Perrie at The X-Factor studios as Little Mix performed back in 2016 and the couple have gone from strength to strength.

In August the pair welcomed baby Axel to their brood.

And Perrie, 28, from South Shields, has made a fortune in her own right.

According to the Sunday Times, Little Mix have sold 60 million records worldwide and have a of £45 million.

Since the band’s split Perrie has been working on her own luxury lifestyle brand Disora and previously released her own range of trainers.

Her social media accounts are also lucrative - according to digital marketing agency Pilot Fish Media, Perrie can now earn as much as £27,000 per Instagram post.

Melanie Martial 

Melanie first made her name on French reality TV when she appeared on Secret Story - a series loosely based on Big Brother.

The 30-year-old has been with Red Devils star Anthony, 26, since 2016 - but their relationship was initially controversial.

The Man U star dumped his then girlfriend Samantha Jacquelinet in 2016 and quickly moved in with Melanie. 

They have since wed and welcomed their son Swan, three, into the world.

Melanie rejects the traditional WAG stereotype, saying it’s not all holidays and handbags.

She said: “That is just the stereotype. Just because a wife isn’t out there telling people their lives doesn’t mean they do nothing."

Melanie has built up a following of 3.4 million followers on Instagram and can reportedly charge over £100,000 per ad on the site.

She has recently made a foray into fashion - designing her own line of clothing - and made her Paris Fashion Week debut earlier this year.

Marta Diaz

The Spanish beauty is a leading influencer and is active on both YouTube and Instagram.

She has amassed close to three million followers and can earn close to £90,000 with one Insta advert.

Marta, 21, would initially focus on make-up tutorials but now posts videos of her travels and adventures on her channel.

She has been in a relationship with Spurs player Sergio Reguilón since 2019.

They first met in a nightclub in Madrid and were spotted publicly for the first time attending the wedding of Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos and Pilar Rubio in Seville.