Luke Littler is set to become a £100 million man with unique exploits eclipsing Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Sport finance expert Dr Rob Wilson claims The Nuke could now go on to earn the jaw-dropping amount in his career. Littler has captured his first World title at the age of just 17. Wilson reckons the teenager’s meteoric rise eclipses that of Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and David Beckham.

He said: “Littler’s earnings should be extrapolated like compound interest. As each year passes his prize money will increase year on year, as will his endorsement activity as his profile grows. He should comfortably earn £20 million in prize money over the next 10 years. Add to that sponsorship, the inevitable ‘at home with the Littlers’ documentary that will follow and other revenue streams and his career earnings could easily hit £100 million.

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“In sport, no-one has seen this sort of meteoric profile and earnings explosion. The likes of Ronaldo, Messi and Beckham have all exceeded these numbers, but that came later in their careers. Littler is unique.

“You have to look at the music industry for anything close to the same early years exposure - Bieber, Spears and One Direction spring to mind - though their earnings naturally accelerate way beyond a typical sports star.

“He’s already one of the most recognisable faces in British sport. Sitting alongside Olympic greats like Keely Hodgkinson and tennis super star Emma Raducanu.

“He is fast becoming as recognisable as some of his football heroes, although not those at his beloved Manchester United. He’ll soon sit alongside the likes of Jude Bellingham as a new star of British sport.

“The sport looks well placed to capitalise too. Barry Hearn will be rubbing his hands together as the profile of the sport takes on a whole new dimension. Expect a bumper Sky contract renewal. Darts might even save the broadcaster from dwindling subscriber numbers.

“Darts will undergo a renaissance as its popularity increases. The breakthrough with new audiences, something that many sports struggle to crack, means that big sponsors will follow and one of the major apparel companies will try to capitalise, much like Nike did with Tiger Woods in golf. Littler could well become a new face for a sportswear giant.”

Littler shies away from talking money and, when asked if he’ll buy himself a gift with the £500,000 pocketed from winning the title, he said: “There probably will be when I get my head around the amount of money I’ve just picked up. But not only the money, the trophy.

“I said it in whatever interview, I don’t really like to talk about the money, but obviously it’s there.”