Messi and Ronaldo Are Building Tech Portfolios. Mo Salah Is Playing a Different Game

2026-07-08 · Source: WIRED - Ai · Field: Finance & Economics — Capital Markets & Investment Management, Personal Finance & Wealth Planning, Emerging Technologies & Innovation · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, short

Summary

Messi and Ronaldo are increasingly building diverse tech portfolios, contrasting with Mo Salah's traditional investment approach. Messi's Play Time venture fund targets AI, health tech, and startups, with investments in FieldAI, Fish Audio, World Labs, Perceptron, Intangible, SuperAnnotate, Matchday, and AC Momento. He also holds stakes in Sorare and KRÜ Esports, and an ownership component in Inter Miami, valued at \$1.45 billion in February 2026, up 22 percent year-on-year. Ronaldo invested in Whoop in May 2024 and acquired a 10 percent stake for \$7.5 million in HBL Pro2col Software in February 2026, deepening his Herbalife partnership. He was also an early investor in Bioniq, acquired by Herbalife for up to \$150 million, and reportedly holds a 5 percent ownership stake in Al-Nassr, valued at £50 million (\$66.7 million) in June 2025. This shift reflects athletes seeking long-term wealth creation beyond sponsorships.

Key takeaway

For investors or entrepreneurs seeking high-profile backing, recognize that celebrity athletes like Messi and Ronaldo are actively pursuing equity stakes in AI, health tech, and sports-related startups. You should focus on presenting opportunities that offer long-term capital appreciation and strategic value, such as global reach or credibility, rather than just traditional sponsorship deals. Ensure your proposals include clear valuation and due diligence to align with their evolving wealth management strategies.

Key insights

Elite athletes increasingly favor equity stakes in tech and startups over traditional sponsorships for long-term wealth.

Principles

• Celebrity investors offer global reach and credibility beyond capital.
• Equity investments provide capital appreciation and future dividends.
• Robust due diligence is fundamental for understanding investment risks.

In practice

• Explore AI, health tech, and sports tech for investment.
• Integrate personalized health tech into existing platforms.
• Seek celebrity investors for enhanced market distribution.

Topics

• Athlete Investments
• Venture Capital
• AI Startups
• Health Technology
• Sports Tech
• Wealth Management

Best for: Entrepreneur, Investor, Consultant

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by WIRED - Ai.