oi-Prateek Bannerjee

This trend is changing football. When players become owners, the “worker” becomes the “boss.” They understand what players need, how the game feels, and how to spot talent better than any traditional businessman.

The transition from the pitch to the boardroom used to be a retirement plan involving a few property investments or a quiet sports agency. Not anymore. Today’s elite footballers aren’t just looking for a post-career hobby; they’re looking for a portfolio.

From Cristiano Ronaldo’s latest power move in Spain to Kylian Mbappé’s “Galactico” investment in France, the era of the “Player-Owner” is officially here. Here is a look at the stars who decided that playing the game wasn’t enough-they wanted to own it.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Almeria)

CR7 has never been one to do things by halves. Leveraging his deep-rooted ties with Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo recently secured a 25% stake in the Spanish second-division side Almeria. While the move raised eyebrows, it’s a strategic masterstroke: the club has been under Saudi majority ownership since 2019. By piggybacking on the Public Investment Fund (PIF) infrastructure, Ronaldo has ensured that even as his playing days in the Middle East wind down, his influence in European football remains firmly anchored.

2. Kylian Mbappé (SM Caen)

While most players use their signing-on bonuses to buy a fleet of supercars, Kylian Mbappé used his Real Madrid windfall to buy a football club. In 2024, he purchased a majority stake in Ligue 2 side SM Caen. Mbappé, who reportedly had significant “consultative” power during his final years at PSG, is now putting those executive muscles to the test. Interestingly, Caen was actually a club he nearly joined as a teenager, making this a full-circle moment for the French captain.

3. The Class of ’92 (Salford City)

The gold standard for the “player-to-owner” pipeline remains the Manchester United legends. Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, and Nicky Butt (later joined by David Beckham) took over local side Salford City in 2014. Backed by billionaire Peter Lim, they transformed a non-league outfit into a League Two regular. While their rapid ascent has cooled recently-thanks in part to the Hollywood-fueled rise of Wrexham-they proved that a group of teammates could successfully run a business together.

4. César Azpilicueta (Hashtag United)

Perhaps the most “modern” entry on the list is the former Chelsea skipper. Azpilicueta isn’t just a traditional investor; he sits on the board of Hashtag United, the club that bridged the gap between YouTube entertainment and competitive semi-pro football. “Dave” has been involved since 2018, showing a surprisingly tech-savvy side to one of the Premier League’s most reliable old-school defenders.

5. Gerard Piqué (FC Andorra & Gimnàstic Manresa)

Piqué didn’t wait for retirement to start his empire. Through his Kosmos Holding group, the World Cup winner bought FC Andorra in 2018 when they were in the fifth tier. Under his guidance, they shot up to the Segunda División, proving that Piqué’s business acumen is just as sharp as his defensive reading of the game. He has since added Gimnàstic Manresa to his portfolio, cementing his status as a budding sporting mogul.

6. Zlatan Ibrahimović (Hammarby)

Leave it to Zlatan to turn club ownership into a civic dispute. In 2019, the Swedish legend bought a nearly 25% stake in Hammarby. The catch? Hammarby are the fierce rivals of Malmö FF, Zlatan’s boyhood club. The move was met with fury in Malmö, resulting in the iconic statue of the striker being vandalized and eventually removed. In Zlatan’s world, ownership isn’t just about business; it’s about making a statement.

7. Didier Drogba (Phoenix Rising)

Drogba took the “player-owner” label literally. When he signed for the USL side Phoenix Rising in 2017, the deal included an ownership stake. He became the first-ever player-owner in the history of the game, scoring goals on the weekend and attending board meetings during the week. It was a pioneering move that set the blueprint for how veteran stars can transition into management roles while still wearing boots.

8. Wilfried Zaha (AFC Croydon Athletic)

Closing on a more community-focused note, Crystal Palace icon Wilfried Zaha teamed up with rapper Stormzy to buy AFC Croydon Athletic. For Zaha, this wasn’t about global branding-it was about giving back to the South London neighborhood that raised him. By investing in his local non-league side, Zaha has ensured that the next generation of Croydon talent has a platform to shine, proving that sometimes the best ownership deals are the ones that hit closest to home.