AI news story

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

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are betting on AI, health tech, and startups. Mohamed Salah is taking a more traditional route be…

  • AI
  • Source: WIRED
  • Published: 2026-07-08

Editor's take

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are diversifying their investments into AI and health technology startups, while Mohamed Salah is focusing on traditional business ventures outside of football.

This divergence highlights the evolving financial strategies of elite athletes. Messi and Ronaldo's embrace of AI and nascent tech sectors positions them as early adopters in a burgeoning investment class, potentially mirroring their influence on the pitch. Salah's approach signifies a more conservative, yet still significant, move into established industries, appealing to a different investor profile. The sheer wealth of these athletes makes their investment choices noteworthy, potentially drawing mainstream attention and capital to the chosen sectors.

Future attention should be paid to the performance of these diverse portfolios. Specifically, whether Messi and Ronaldo's AI bets yield returns comparable to their football careers, and if Salah's traditional ventures achieve similar stability and growth, will offer insights into athlete diversification strategies and the broader appeal of different asset classes. The success or failure of these high-profile investments could influence how other athletes approach wealth management and entrepreneurial endeavors.