Messi and Ronaldo pivot to AI investments and top global earnings

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are expanding their influence beyond football by investing heavily in emerging technologies and maintaining massive global earnings.

Messi is utilizing his investment firm, Play Time HoldCo, to fund various tech startups. His portfolio includes companies focused on robotics, voice AI, and spatial intelligence, such as World Labs, FieldAI, and SuperAnnotate. These investments aim to move AI from digital screens into the physical world through robotics and environmental understanding.

Cristiano Ronaldo is focusing his investments on health technology, human performance, and AI-driven data.

Financially, both athletes remain at the top of the sports world. According to Sportico, Ronaldo is projected to earn approximately $300 million for the 2026-2027 season, with $250 million coming from Al Nassr. Messi follows with an estimated $150 million in total income. While Ronaldo leads in total earnings, Messi generates higher revenue from commercial partnerships, earning roughly $75 million annually compared to Ronaldo's $50 million.