Luxury furniture, top notch amenities, breathtaking balconies, fully equipped gyms, and sparkling pools. Football players are known for their extravagant spending, especially in the real estate sector. Portuguese football players are no exception and invest heavily in dream properties, even if they are not for a lifetime. Today we’re taking a closer look at some of the investments made by Portuguese footballers in properties worth millions of euros.
Cristiano Ronaldo: preference for the real estate sector
Cristiano Ronaldo’s name is probably the most talked about when it comes to real estate deals. Who can forget, for example, the first hotel of the Pestana CR7 brand that was opened in his native Funchal?
This was followed by the opening of Pestana CR7 Lisboa, Pestana CR7 Gran Vía Madrid, and Pestana CR7 Times Square. More recently, the doors of Pestana CR7 Marrakech have opened in Morocco, and another hotel is under construction in Paris. But Cristiano Ronaldo’s list of real estate investments doesn’t stop there. The player also has:
- An apartment on Avenida da Liberdade, Lisbon, valued at over eight million euros;
- A house in the United Kingdom, valued at over six million euros. This is where he lived while playing for Manchester United;
- A mansion in the La Finca neighbourhood of Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid. Currently, this mansion is valued at over 15 million euros;
- Former apartment at Trump Tower, New York (sold at a loss after being purchased for over 16 million euros in 2015);
- A plot of land in Quinta da Marinha, where he is building his new home.
He is also responsible for the residential project of 88 apartments that will be developed in Madeira, again with the Pestana group. Pestana Residences & CR7 will begin construction in the second half of 2024 and promises to transform the landscape in the Praia Formosa area, Funchal.
In addition to the real estate market, Cristiano Ronaldo has a stake in the brokerage company Ponta de Lança. He also controls 70% of the company Mussara, with the remaining 30% owned by his brother Hugo Aveiro, and has a partnership with US-based Crunch Fitness in the CR7 Fitness by Crunch network. In December 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo entered the media world by acquiring 30% of CMTV and Correio da Manhã. Recent weeks have also seen the acquisition of 10% of the capital of Vista Alegre Atlantis, in an investment valued at around 17 million euros.
João Félix and his rented mansion in Madrid
The young Portuguese player João Félix has also taken his first steps into the world of real estate investments.
During his time in Madrid, he followed the trend of football stars and also chose La Finca neighbourhood, just a 10-minute drive from the centre of Madrid, to live in. As mentioned earlier, this was the neighbourhood where Cristiano Ronaldo lived before moving to Juventus.
A house in this luxurious neighbourhood easily surpasses five million euros. In fact, La Finca is a luxury residential development inhabited by the rich, famous, and millionaires, often chosen by football figures. Mourinho, Zidane, Iker Casillas, and Ramos have all lived there.
João Félix’s house became known for its minimalist design, with a pool, garden, and very spacious amenities at the time. Currently, João Félix resides in Barcelona, but instead of selling his former house, he decided to rent it out last year. The rental price isn’t for the faint hearted and costs between 10,000 to 12,000 euros, as reported by Flash magazine.
And what about the rest of the players from the Portuguese national team? From Juventus to Manchester City, and according to the publication, João Cancelo lived with his family in a luxurious villa that featured extensive outdoor space, including a football field and a hot tub next to the lawn. Bruno Fernandes also found a home in the UK, sharing his daily family life in the city.
Bernardo Silva, although discreet about his private life, occasionally shares some photos from an apartment located in a luxury district of the English city. Meanwhile, Rui Patrício, the well-known goalkeeper of the Portuguese national team currently at the 2024 European Football Championship, lives comfortably with his family in Rome, Italy. In Portugal, he spends his time in an apartment in the Telheiras area.
Luís Figo: investments in another field
Luís Figo is perhaps one of the most heard names when it comes to business. Despite not having any significant investments in the real estate sector, the former Barcelona and Real Madrid footballer launched a luxury clothing brand last year.
He also has investments in precious metals. In 2010, a year after retiring from football, the former player attended the International Mining Fair held in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, and it was then that he decided to open a company dedicated to this business. This is Damash Assets, headquartered in Almada. The business has assets worth over 20 million euros and had profits exceeding 600,000 euros in 2018.