Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t just thinking about life after football; he’s already making moves. The Manchester United and Real Madrid legend just bought 25% of Spanish second-division club Almeria, using his CR7 Sports company. He’s now part of the ownership group led by SMC Group.

Almeria sit third in the Segunda Division, only two points behind Racing, and they’re fighting hard for promotion to LaLiga. At 41, Ronaldo has talked for years about owning a club as his playing days wind down, and now he’s finally doing it.

With a net worth close to £900 million, he’s got the firepower to change a club’s fortunes. Right now, Al Nassr pays him £178 million a year, so money isn’t exactly an issue. In a statement on Almeria’s X account, Ronaldo said, “It’s been my dream to give back to football, not just as a player but in other ways too. UD Almeria is a club with solid roots and real room to grow. I’m excited to team up with the leadership and help push the club into its next phase.”

Almeria’s president, Mohamed Al Khereiji, sounded thrilled. “We’re very happy Cristiano chose us. He’s arguably the greatest ever, knows Spanish football inside out, and sees what we’re building here, both with the team and the academy.”

This could be just the beginning for Ronaldo. Some fans are already wondering if this is his first step toward owning Manchester United one day. The club’s still a mess behind the scenes. Michael Carrick has things going well on the pitch, but the Glazer family, the main owners, are as unpopular as ever. Meanwhile, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS group, who run the football side, have faced heavy criticism, especially after some harsh budget cuts.

Ronaldo didn’t hold back about the Glazers in his explosive 2022 interview with Piers Morgan, which basically ended his second stint at United. He’s kept talking about the club’s problems since then. At the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards in 2024, he even hinted he’d like to fix things as an owner. “The problem at Manchester United is the same,” he said. “It’s not always the coach. It’s much more than that. If I owned the club, I’d set things straight and fix what’s wrong.”

FIFA president Gianni Infantino says he’s fully backing Mexico as one of the hosts for the 2026 World Cup, and he’s not worried about the country’s security issues getting in the way. FIFA’s keeping an eye on things, but right now, there are no plans to change the tournament schedule.

Everything’s still on track for the reopening of Estadio Azteca and the big intercontinental playoff matches next month. Infantino made it clear that FIFA is talking all the time with Mexico’s federal government and President Claudia Sheinbaum. He trusts them to pull off a great tournament.

“We’re watching what’s happening in Mexico,” Infantino said. “But right from the start, I want to say we believe in Mexico, in President Claudia Sheinbaum, and in the authorities. We’re sure everything will go as well as possible.”

So, with the playoff matches just around the corner and massive logistics in motion, nothing’s getting derailed. FIFA and Mexican officials are still working closely together on everything from operations to security. Infantino confirmed the matches and the Azteca reopening are both happening as planned.

“We’ve got matches coming up in Mexico for the World Cup Playoff, and the stadium’s reopening too,” he said. “Mexico’s a great football country. Every place has its situations.”

FIFA keeps saying Mexico is right at the heart of the 2026 World Cup, which Mexico is co-hosting with the United States and Canada. They’re sure the tournament will be safe and one big celebration.

“From my side, and for FIFA, we completely trust President Sheinbaum,” Infantino said. “We’re always in touch with the presidency and the authorities. We’re keeping up with everything. The World Cup’s going to be an incredible party.”

President Sheinbaum herself promised fans total security when the World Cup kicks off on June 11 in Mexico City.

“Every single guarantee,” she said when asked about safety. She brushed off any worries for visiting fans and added, “There’s no risk, none at all.”