Cristiano Ronaldo Tiptoes Into Club Ownership As He Acquires 25% Share in Spanish Soccer Team

Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo is renowned for his exploits on the soccer pitch, but he is also an entrepreneur outside of the pitch. And now, the 41-year-old Al-Nassr superstar has emerged as the latest player to try his luck in being an owner of a soccer club.

Al-Nassr Star Cristiano Ronaldo Invests in La Liga 2 Squad

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, the Real Madrid icon has acquired a 25% stake in La Liga 2 club UD Almería through a subsidiary of his CR7 Sports Investments. He is set to work alongside Mohamed al-Khereiji of Saudi Media Corporation (SMC).

Almería, who last played in the La Liga in the 2023-24 season, said in an official statement, “Cristiano Ronaldo has acquired 25% of the shares of UD Almería through CR7 Sports Investments, a subsidiary of CR7 SA, this being an important step in the continued expansion of both the club and the investment portfolio of the Portuguese businessman. This agreement is part of the international expansion of the entity being carried out by President Mohamed Al Khereiji through his business conglomerate SMC Group.”

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Ronaldo, who won two La Liga titles during his nine-year stint at Real Madrid, revealed that he was always interested in being a club owner in any capacity. He also showered praise on Almería for being in a position to maximize their potential in the coming years.

“It has been a longtime ambition of mine to contribute to football beyond the pitch. UD Almería is a Spanish club with strong foundations and clear potential for growth. I look forward to working alongside the leadership team to support the club’s next phase of growth,” the five-time Ballon d’Or award winner said about his recent venture.

In May 2025, Al-Khereiji bought Almería from Turki Alalshikh and has been the team’s main owner and president for nearly eight months. He expressed his excitement about Ronaldo becoming his partner, asserting, “We are very pleased that Cristiano has chosen our club to invest in. 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.”

Almería, founded in July 1989, won La Liga 2 in the 2021-22 season and achieved promotion to the Spanish top flight. They finished 17th in the 2022-23 La Liga table, then 19th in the 2023-24 season, and were relegated.

After securing a sixth-place finish in La Liga 2 last season, Almería are currently third in the Segunda División with 48 points from 27 matches. They are just two points off the leaders, Real Racing Club de Santander, and one point off CD Castellón in the standings.