Cristiano Ronaldo Acquires Stake in Spanish Club Almería

Cristiano Ronaldo, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, has taken a 25% ownership stake in UD Almería, a second-division Spanish football club, as announced on Thursday, February 26, 2026. This investment marks Ronaldo’s latest venture into club ownership, adding to his existing stake in Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr.

Investment Details

The acquisition was made through Ronaldo’s newly formed sports holding company, CR7 Sports Investments. The majority ownership of Almería remains with the Saudi-led consortium, SMC Group, led by Mohamed Al-Khereiji, who took control of the club in May 2025 [Source: The New York Times]. Financial details of the deal have not been disclosed.

Ronaldo’s Vision

“It has been a long-time ambition of mine to contribute to football,” Ronaldo stated in a press release issued by CR7 Sports Investments [Source: BBC Sport]. “I gaze forward to working alongside the leadership team to support the club’s next phase of growth.”

Almería’s Current Standing

Currently, Almería sits in third place in Spain’s Segunda División (second tier), just two points behind the league leaders [Source: The Guardian]. They are firmly positioned within the playoff spots for promotion to LaLiga. The club was last in the Spanish top flight during the 2023-24 season, where they finished 19th and were relegated.

Future Plans and Potential Impact

Mohamed Al-Khereiji indicated that Ronaldo is expected to be particularly involved in the development of the club’s youth program [Source: BBC Sport]. Rubi, Almería’s coach, expressed optimism about Ronaldo’s influence, stating his extensive knowledge of the sport could significantly benefit the club [Source: BBC Sport].

Ronaldo’s Expanding Portfolio

This investment adds to Ronaldo’s growing portfolio of business ventures. He was recently named football’s first billionaire by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index in October 2025 [Source: The New York Times], earning over £175 million annually through his salary at Al-Nassr and various endorsements.