Not retired yet, a Real Madrid player joins the ranks of 'owners'

Following Messi, Ronaldo, and Mbappe, Thibaut Courtois is the latest figure to invest in football clubs by becoming a co-owner of a European club.

Courtois announced that he will join the ownership group of Le Mans FC through the investment company NxtPlay, which is providing funding for the club’s long-term project. The French club also revealed a major internal restructuring, with the Brazilian investment fund Outfield, previously involved, now becoming the controlling shareholder.

Meanwhile, NxtPlay is an investment group that includes other sports stars such as tennis legend Novak Djokovic and former F1 drivers Felipe Massa and Kevin Magnussen. This means all these figures, including Courtois, currently hold minority stakes in Le Mans.

Le Mans has shown steady progress in France, finishing 15th last season before earning promotion to Ligue 2. Currently, they are 5th and hold a 20-match unbeaten streak. The team also reached the round of 16 in the Coupe de France. With the new investment and influence from Courtois and partners, the club aims to compete for promotion to Ligue 1.

Depending on the country and specific regulations, active players may face restrictions on owning or holding shares in clubs within the same domestic league system due to concerns about transparency and fairness. However, some have found ways to invest either abroad or through permitted structures.

For example, Mbappé became a controlling investor at SM Caen in 2024 with a reported fee of around 20 million euros. Since he had already completed his transfer to Spain at that time, this deal did not violate French football competition rules, making him one of the youngest club owners in the football world.

Another notable partnership model comes from Inter Miami stars Messi and Luis Suarez. Established in May 2025, the two South American icons entered football ownership with Deportivo LSM, a club currently competing in Uruguay’s fourth division.

In Saudi Arabia, regulations appear different, as Ronaldo reportedly owns 15% of Al Nassr, the club he plays for. Other active players like Vinícius Júnior (Alverca), Luka Modrić (Swansea City), and N’Golo Kanté (Royal Excelsior Virton) are also contributing to the growing trend of expanding influence in football through ownership roles while still playing on the field.