Football Icon Cristiano Ronaldo Becomes Co-Owner of Spanish Second Division Club UD Almería

Madrid. World football legend Cristiano Ronaldo has made a new and significant professional leap in the later stages of his playing career. The 41-year-old Ronaldo has become a co-owner of the Spanish second-division club UD Almería by purchasing a 25 percent stake in the club.

Ronaldo invested in the club, which is owned by a Saudi Arabian investment group, through his recently established CR7 Sports Investment company. This deal was made possible by the long-standing relationship between Ronaldo and Saudi investor Mohammed Al-Khereiji.

Ronaldo, who has a deep understanding of Spanish football, stated that Almería has a bright future. In a statement, he mentioned his long-held desire to contribute to football off the pitch and that he sees great potential for development at Almería.

Club President Al-Khereiji also expressed confidence that Ronaldo's arrival will elevate both the team and the academy to new heights. Currently third in the Spanish Segunda División, Almería is only two points behind leaders Real Racing and is aiming for promotion to La Liga next season.

Ronaldo, who has been playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia since 2022, is the highest-paid player in history with an annual salary of ".177 million pounds. While known for scoring goals on the field, Ronaldo is increasingly establishing himself as a successful businessman.

His business ventures, which began with hotel investments in Madeira, Portugal, in 2016, have now expanded to include perfumes, watches, gyms, health apps, and hair transplant clinics. According to the 2025 Forbes list, he earns approximately ".210 million pounds annually from sports and business combined.

Recently, Ronaldo has publicly spoken about improving the structural weaknesses of major European clubs. His investment in Almería is now seen as the first step in that plan.

For Ronaldo, who reigned in Spain for nine years while playing for Real Madrid, this new role is also emotionally significant. He is currently building a strong business empire to manage the potential void after his playing career ends.