Messi and Ronaldo build tech wallets Mohamed Salah is playing a different game

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah have spent the past two decades defining one of football’s greatest eras. Now, as 2026 FIFA World Cup It marks Ronaldo’s last appearance in the tournament and another defining moment in the careers of Messi and Salah, as they also prepare for life off the pitch.

Before Messi’s Argentina beat Salah’s Egypt in one of the best matches of the tournament on Tuesday, Salah was asked which player he would choose for the final “last dance” of a generation that includes both Messi and Ronaldo. Messi chose without to hesitate. The answer carried extra weight given that Ronaldo had already confirmed that this would be his final World Cup before Portugal’s round of 16 defeat. Spainwhich ended his six-time World Cup career.

But away from football, the players’ futures began to differ. Messi and Ronaldo have increasingly embraced equity stakes in… Amnesty Internationaland health technology and startups, while Salah has largely stuck to a more traditional mix of business partnerships, real estate and philanthropy.

This shift has accelerated over the past decade with the rise of venture capital firms and startups Look for famous investors Who bring in the most money. A footballer with hundreds of millions of followers can offer global reach, credibility and distribution that only a few traditional investors can match.

“The shift away from traditional sponsorship deals towards equity stakes and startup investments reflects a broader focus on long-term wealth creation and financial security beyond an athlete’s career,” says Kamran Khan, partner at Dubai-based Archers Valuation and Consulting.

On the past Over the past decade, elite athletes have increasingly exchanged one-time endorsement fees for ownership stakes in companies, joining a broader trend that has seen sports stars become investors rather than mere brand ambassadors. In October 2022, Messi was launched Play Time HoldCoa San Francisco-based investment firm alongside entrepreneur Razmig Hovagimian, founder of the video streaming platform Viki, which was previously acquired by Rakuten. The company’s goal is simple: to invest in companies working in the fields of sports, media and technology.

“While sponsorship typically generates income during an athlete’s peak years, equity investments can provide the potential for capital appreciation and, where possible, future dividend income, helping to build more sustainable wealth after retirement,” Khan points out.

It was initially reported that he was almost targeted 200 million dollarsPlay Time has been compiled ever since Wallet Which increasingly resembles a Silicon Valley venture capital fund.

per Play time On the website, its bets include FieldAI, Fish Audio, World Labs, Perceptron, Intangible, and SuperAnnotate, along with sports-specific investments in sports. FIFA licensed mobile game Match day And AC Momento souvenir market.

Outside of playing time, Messi also owns a stake in the fantasy football platform sisterwhich allows users to purchase and trade officially licensed digital operator cards, and join an ownership group KRU eSportsthe Valorant and Rocket League organization founded by his former Argentine national team teammate Sergio Aguero. his three years, The deal was reportedly worth $20 million Serving as a global ambassador for the Socios.com Blockchain token platform is a paid promotional contract, not an undisclosed equity stake.

As part of his historic 2023 move to Inter Miami, Messi received an ownership element alongside his salary and signing bonus – a An unprecedented arrangement In Major League Soccer. While reports have speculated about the size of this stake, neither the club nor MLS have publicly confirmed the details.

athlete Inter Miami is valued at $1.45 billion In February 2026, up 22 percent year-on-year and the highest valuation in Major League Soccer history.

If Messi’s investments Reflecting the boom in artificial intelligence in Silicon Valley, Ronaldo is focused almost entirely on health technology, a field that aligns closely with the personal brand he has spent decades cultivating around fitness and longevity.

Ronaldo He became an investor in Whoop– a wearable fitness tracking and health analytics company – in May 2024, a deal that would The same croak called “One of Ronaldo’s most important investments to date”, having been a paid member for years. “Whoop has become one of the most important tools I use to support my long-term health,” he said at the time. Whoop’s foray into the UAE is backed by both the Qatar Investment Authority and Mubadala Investment Company.