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2 clusters · 6 sources · 12 days · First seen · Last updated

Celebrity and billionaire football club investments

Overview

High-profile athletes and billionaires are increasingly investing in football club ownership. Lionel Messi has expanded his portfolio through stakes in UE Cornellà and an agreement to acquire 100% of CD Eldense, alongside interests in Uruguay’s Deportivo LSM and Argentina’s Leones de Rosario. Cristiano Ronaldo has pursued investments through CR7 Sports Investments, including a 25% stake in UD Almería and a reported shareholder relationship with Al-Nassr.

This trend has broadened to include figures such as Thomas Müller, Mats Hummels, and Jeff Bezos. Müller and Hummels reportedly acquired Estrela Amadora for approximately 40 million euros, while Bezos holds a stake in FC Liverpool.

Analysts note a shift in investment motivation, moving from ‘sugar daddy’ investors seeking social prestige toward those seeking economic returns through asset value appreciation. However, football clubs remain distinct from traditional corporations, as they often prioritize sporting success and economic stability over maximum profit generation.

Entities

Lionel Messi · UD Almería · Mats Hummels · Estrela Amadora · Inter Miami CF

Timeline

  1. [SPORTS] 4 sources
    Celebrities and billionaires increase investments in European football clubs

    Celebrities and billionaires like Lionel Messi and Jeff Bezos are shifting toward football club investments in Europe, seeking economic returns through asset appreciation rather than just social prestige.

  2. [SPORTS] 2 sources
    Messi and Ronaldo expand influence through football club ownership

    Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are shifting focus toward football club ownership, with Messi acquiring stakes in Spanish and Uruguayan clubs and Ronaldo investing in UD Almería.

Sources

cafef.vn · kenh14.vn · onetz.de · saarbruecker-zeitung.de · volksfreund.de · wz.de