Edwin Kiplagat

updated at September 13, 2023 at 11:44 AM

• Cristiano Ronaldo has invested €5 million into the sport of padel in Portugal
• The star played in June is now looking to grow the sport in his home country
• Padel is quickly becoming the football world's second most-favoured sport

It is hard to see Cristiano Ronaldo playing another sport other than football.

I mean, he's arguably the best footballer of all time but the Al-Nassr striker has invested a significant amount in a project to help the sport of padel develop in Portugal.

The veteran striker has pumped €5 million recently to help grow the sport in the European nation.

The legendary footballer is one of the wealthiest sportsmen on the planet and is the latest player to take a keen interest in Padel.

Padel is a blend between tennis and squash, which is played in doubles on an enclosed court and has the same scoring system as tennis.

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With Ronaldo becoming one of the investors, the sports will likely experience further growth.

Portuguese Padel Federation president, Ricardo da Silva Oliveira commented, according to Cabine Desportiva:

"The 'City of Padel' is an old dream which I always hoped to achieve and it is an immense pride to be able to do it alongside someone who, for me, is the greatest figure in the history of world sport - Cristiano Ronaldo."

In June, Ronaldo was spotted playing padel in Singapore. Thousands of fans thronged the venue to witness the iconic footballer play the sport, per Straits Times.

Is padel football's second favourite sport?

According to The Athletic, top stars like Lionel Messi, Neymar, Jurgen Klopp, and Mohamed Salah have been seen playing padel. Even Paris Saint-Germain president, Nasser Al Khelaifi has taken a keen interest in the sport.

However, unlike tennis, it is not that popular and some wonder what the appeal is.

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The sport continues to grow in Europe and in the USA. Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk and former Wimbledon champion, Andy Murray have also poured money into the sport.

For footballers, the racquet sport is believed to help them relax and keep a sharp mind and with Ronaldo investing in it, it is surely poised to grow in the next few years.

Ronaldo hailed as Saudi youth role model

Sports Brief previously reported on the newly appointed Director of Football for the Saudi Pro League, Michael Emenalo praising Cristiano Ronaldo as being ‘more than just a footballer’.

While the veteran's on-field performances continue to capture attention, his work ethic and lifestyle have also established him as a role model for the Saudi youth, as noted by Emenalo.