CHICAGO _ The $93 million question has been answered.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the reigning FIFA player of the year and the world's highest-paid athlete, will not be in town with Real Madrid on Wednesday when the La Liga superpower faces the MLS All-Stars at Soldier Field.
Ronaldo is on an extended summer break and will not be rejoining the team until Aug. 5 _ three days after the All-Star Game in Chicago _ Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane told reporters Friday in Miami on the eve of his team's El Clasico exhibition against FC Barcelona.
"He has the right to enjoy his vacation, but we're ready for (Saturday) as a team," Zidane said Friday through an interpreter. "He'll be back with us on the 5th and he'll be ready for the season."
Further complicating Ronaldo's schedule is the fact he's expected to be in a Madrid courtroom Monday to testify in a tax-evasion case. Ronaldo has been accused of four counts of tax fraud from 2011-14 totaling $16.5 million. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Forbes in May reported Ronaldo made $93 million in the last year, more than every active athlete worldwide; $53 million of that came from salary and bonuses, Forbes said.
Ronaldo, who also plays for the Portuguese national team, has won four FIFA Ballon d'Or awards as the world's top player. Only Barcelona's Messi has won more with five.
Fire midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, who will captain the MLS All-Stars on Wednesday, said this week Real still has plenty of firepower.
"Real Madrid is one of the biggest clubs in the world," he told the Tribune. "In every city, they have supporters. I hope that the people in Chicago support us, especially since we have some players on the team."
In addition to Schweinsteiger, three other Fire players are on the MLS roster: forward Nemanja Nikolic, the league's leading goal scorer; midfielder Dax McCarty and defender Johan Kappelhof.
Fire coach Veljko Paunovic will coach the MLS team.
