Cristiano Ronaldo has purchased a 25% stake in UD Almería, which is currently in the second division of Spain’s football league system.
The 41-year-old, who is still performing excellently on the pitch for Al Nassr, is opting for a route where he will be able to impact the game after he retires. Instead of taking the path of becoming a coach, Ronaldo is looking at club ownership to fill up his post-retirement days. In fact, he has already ruled out the idea of becoming a manager, hinting more about a role behind the scenes.
At the Globe Soccer Awards in December 2024, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner uttered the words that revealed his plan in football: “Head coach or manager? That’s not for me… but I may become a club owner someday.”
Ronaldo’s stake purchase has coincided with a successful spell in the Saudi league, where he was able to patch up his brief misunderstanding with club officials and came back to play his best football. The Portuguese superstar has managed a quartet of goals in the last three matches, through which he has led his team to the summit of the league.
As per the report by Bloomberg, 2025 saw Ronaldo become the first player in football to attain billionaire status with an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion. His net worth has skyrocketed since he signed with Al Nassr back in 2023 on a deal that is worth more than $236 million per year.
Ronaldo’s entrance into the world of owners can be seen as him making a long-term play for having a voice in the football industry, which his immense celebrity will undoubtedly help him accomplish.
