Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr player. (Hamad I Mohammed/REUTERS)
With the passage of time, the soccer has increased the amounts of money it moves. This not only translates into benefits for the clubs, but also for the players themselves. The market value of footballers has reached amounts unimaginable for ordinary citizens. Because of them, the majority have gone from being simply athletes to being great personalities in business.
Cristiano Ronaldothe Portuguese soccer star, has been adding millions during his career and investing them in multiple sectors. His last adventure, Lisbon Racket Centerincludes seven hard-surface tennis courts, eight paddle tennis courts and five squash courts. In addition, the venue also incorporates a restaurant area, as well as a fitness space.
He Business Journal He could not confirm what the acquisition price of the entire sports complex would have been. However, the price of their classes is known. The Portuguese medium MAJOR He indicated that court rental is 8 euros per person for tennis, paddle tennis, squash and pickleball. Groups of three to four people have a reduced price of 5.5 euros. Students at educational centers also have discounts and will only have to pay 6 euros per hour.
On the other hand, adults can enjoy individual classes for 145 euros for one weekly session, 260 euros for two and 350 euros for three classes. Shared classes have a lower price, for two people, between 14 and 16 hours, it is reduced to 85 euros once a week, 140 euros, for two and 190 euros, for three. Groups of three to four people start at 75 euros per week.
Cristiano Ronaldo acquired the entire Lisbon Racket Center, a complex in Alvalade. It is not one of the particularly exclusive neighborhoods in the Portuguese capital, although it is within the expensive areas of Lisbon. It is one of the most emblematic neighborhoods of the city, located north of the center.
Cristiano Ronaldo Al-Nassr player. (Hamad I Mohammed/REUTERS)
Despite the diversity of the Portuguese’s businesses, it is not his first contact with racket sport. He is one of the investors of Padel Cityin Oeiras, through the consortium formed by CR7, Ronaldo’s company, and Lusofinança, in a project of the Portuguese Paddle Federation (FPP). According to the footballer’s holding company, the Lisboa Racket Center was the first club in Portugal with padel courts and classes, currently having more than a thousand students in the three modalities.
The striker has not only triumphed on the pitch, but also in the offices. According to the magazine Forbesis the highest paid athlete of 2024. His fortune would rise to 260 million dollarsdue to the 200 million he receives from Saudi Al Nassr and sponsorship contracts. Nike, Herbalife, Clear Haircare and, more recently, Whoop They are just some of them.
The CR7 brand also moves millions, not only does it have a line of clothing and footwear, in addition, in 2016, it reached an agreement with the company DAMAC to build several luxury hotels in cities such as Lisbon, Madrid or New York. Beyond fashion and hotels, the ‘7’ has also invested in less flashy businesses. One of the most unknown, but no less profitable, in a paint store which he shares with his sister in Portugal.
