Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are shifting from football to tech investments, placing equity stakes in AI, health tech, and digital platforms as they wind down their playing careers. Mohamed Salah, by contrast, has not followed the same path, sticking largely to commercial sponsorships, real estate, and philanthropy. Ronaldo confirmed the 2026 FIFA World Cup would be his last, closing a six-tournament career, while Messi continues to play at a high level for Argentina. Before Argentina defeated Egypt in a key match, Salah was asked whom he would choose for one final game between Messi and Ronaldo, selecting Messi without hesitation.
Away from the pitch, Messi has co-founded Play Time HoldCo, a San Francisco-based investment firm launched in October 2022 with entrepreneur Razmig Hovaghimian. The firm targets investments in sports, media, and technology, reportedly aiming for a $200 million portfolio. Its current holdings include FieldAI, Fish Audio, World Labs, Perceptron, Intangible, and SuperAnnotate. It has also invested in Matchday, a FIFA-licensed mobile game, and AC Momento, a memorabilia marketplace. Messi holds a separate equity stake in Sorare, a fantasy football platform, and is part of the ownership group of KRÜ Esports, co-founded by former Argentina player Sergio Agüero.
He also signed a three-year, $20 million deal to serve as global ambassador for Socios.com, a blockchain fan-token platform, though this is a paid promotional role, not an equity investment. Messi's move to Inter Miami in 2023 included speculation about an ownership stake, but neither the club nor Major League Soccer has confirmed the details. In February 2026, Sportico valued Inter Miami at $1.45 billion, a 22 percent increase from the previous year and the highest valuation in MLS history. Meanwhile, Ronaldo has increased his presence in startup ventures, though specific companies were not named in the report. Kamraan Khan, a partner at Dubai-based Archers Valuation and Advisory, noted that athletes are increasingly choosing long-term wealth creation through equity over short-term endorsement deals.
Messi and Ronaldo are treating their post-football futures like venture capital plays while Salah remains focused on traditional income streams. The contrast reveals divergent strategies among global athletes, with tech investments offering uncertain returns despite their Silicon Valley appeal. For African stars like Salah, avoiding high-risk startups may reflect a more cautious financial approach. The lack of verified details on Messi's Inter Miami ownership stake leaves questions about how deep his business involvement truly is.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
