Cristiano Ronaldo has officially announced that he is now a shareholder in the mixed martial arts promotion WOW FC.
The football legend from Portugal shared the news through a press release on Thursday, marking his partnership with UFC champion Ilia Topuria as they lead the Madrid-based promotion.
During his illustrious career, Ronaldo, 40, spent a notable period in Madrid, playing for Real Madrid from 2009 to 2018 and setting the record as the club’s all-time top scorer with 450 goals.
Now playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, the Portugal captain has previously expressed a fascination with mixed martial arts and had a brief altercation with Topuria in 2024.
Ronaldo had called out Topuria for being “too talkative,” to which Topuria responded, saying, “I didn’t expect someone like you to confuse confidence with arrogance.”
Despite their past disagreements, the two are now united as business partners at WOW FC, which stands for Way of Warrior Fighting Championship.
In his statement, Ronaldo remarked, “MMA embodies values I truly believe in: discipline, respect, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.”
Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, is still scoring spectacular goals (AFP via Getty Images)
He further added, “WOW FC is crafting something unique and powerful, and I’m excited to be part of this initiative to enhance the sport and inspire the next generation.”
Topuria, who is also a shareholder, expressed, “Cristiano Ronaldo joining WOW FC is a remarkable milestone for the sport. He epitomizes the highest levels of professionalism, dedication, and global excellence.”
“Together, we aim to elevate MMA and encourage athletes and fans worldwide to believe that anything is achievable.”
At the time of their exchange, Topuria was the reigning UFC featherweight champion but vacated the title in February before moving up to lightweight in June.
This year, he achieved a notable victory by knocking out former champion Charles Oliveira in the first round to secure the vacant title. However, Topuria’s first title defense is currently uncertain.
Meanwhile, this week, FIFA suspended the last two matches of a three-game ban for Ronaldo, allowing him to be eligible for Portugal’s World Cup squad next summer.
The ban was due to a red card he received against Ireland this month after swinging his elbow at defender Dara O’Shea during a 2-0 loss.