Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid's all-time leading goalscorer with 450 goals in 438 matches, has become co-owner of Spanish second division side Almeria by acquiring a 25% share in the club.
The 41-year-old Al-Nassr forward purchased his stake in Almeria, which is owned by a Saudi Arabian investment consortium led by Mohammed Al-Khereiji, through his newly established CR7 Sports Investments company.
Although the financial terms have not been made public, Ronaldo expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with the club's leadership to advance its development.
"It has been a long-held ambition of mine to contribute to football, beyond the pitch.
UD Almeria is a Spanish club with strong foundations and clear potential for growth."
Ronaldo further stated that he is eager to support the next phase of the club's growth.
President Mohammed Al-Khereiji commented on Ronaldo's involvement:
"[Ronaldo] is regarded as the greatest to ever play the game, he knows the Spanish leagues very well and he understands the potential of what we are building here both in terms of the team and the academy."
Last year, Al-Khereiji's SMC Group acquired Almeria from Turki Al-Sheikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), a Saudi government department.
Ronaldo spent nine successful years in Spain playing for Real Madrid, during which he won La Liga twice and the Champions League four times before transferring to Italian club Juventus in 2018.
Since 2022, he has played for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League and is recognized as the highest-paid footballer in history, earning an annual salary of £177 million.
Founded in 1989, Almeria currently sits third in the Segunda División, two points behind leaders Real Racing with 15 games remaining.
'The portfolio keeps expanding' - analysis
Just over a decade ago, Cristiano Ronaldo was reluctant to consider life after football. Those close to him cautioned that without preparing for retirement, he might face difficulties once his playing career ended. He took this advice seriously, turning to business as a means to maintain relevance and to create opportunities aligned with his family's interests.
His initial venture was symbolic: in 2016, Ronaldo partnered with a hotel group to open a property in Madeira.
Over time, he began investing not only his earnings but also his enthusiasm into business ventures, appreciating the strategic and operational aspects.
Although he once aspired to produce a Hollywood film, he found similar fulfillment in building companies, applying the same discipline he devoted to his athletic career.
On the field, this dedication made him the most prolific goalscorer in history after age 30. Off the field, it has shaped a successful second career.
According to the 2025 Forbes ranking, Ronaldo generated nearly £210 million from football and business combined. Over £50 million of this income derived from his diverse non-football business interests.
He has increasingly managed his ventures through his investment and lifestyle companies, holding stakes in a water brand, a healthy-living app, and a recovery products company, as well as businesses in underwear, fragrances, and footwear.
In addition to ownership stakes, Ronaldo maintains high-profile partnerships with leading brands, has opened gyms across Portugal and Spain, and launched a watch collection.
His portfolio continues to expand.
Ronaldo co-founded a hair-transplant clinic group operating in Spain, Portugal, Oman, and Italy; one of its clients was his mother, Dolores Aveiro.
What began with the Madeira hotel evolved into a joint venture launched in December 2015, initially valued at over £65 million. The group now owns properties in Lisbon, Madrid, New York, and Marrakech.
In December 2024, at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards, Ronaldo remarked that if he ever owned a football club, he knew how to address structural issues he observed in some of Europe's top teams.
Now, he has taken a 25% stake in Almeria, owned by Al-Khereiji, who was instrumental in Ronaldo's move to Al-Nassr following his departure from Manchester United.
The treadmill of professional football was always destined to end, but Ronaldo has established a foundation to continue his engagement with the sport and business.
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