Lionel Messi’s Cornella capture, Cristiano Ronaldo at Almeria & the six biggest new club ownership projects being taken on by football’s elite stars
Last but by no means least comes Thibaut Courtois, another Real Madrid icon who is still among the world’s best goalkeepers at the age of 34. The Belgium international may also be the most business savvy player on the list, having made investment moves at not one, not two, but three clubs since the turn of the year.
In February, Courtois joined an all-star ownership group at Le Mans that already featured celebrity athletes like Novak Djokovic and Felipe Massa. Courtois invested in the club via NxtPlay Capital, the company he co-founded with Gonzalo Vilar, and they have since celebrated returning to Ligue 1 for the first time since 2010.
Three months later, Courtois and NxtPlay become co-owners of CD Extremadura, who have achieved four successive promotions since 2022, rising into Spanish football’s third-tier competition the Primera Federacion. However, the most exciting project Courtois has taken on is based in his homeland.
On June 1, Genk announced Courtois’ return to the club as a minority investor. The Real No.1 began his career with the Belgian giants, and jumped at the chance to become the club’s first external corporate shareholder ever, on the back of their transition into a limited liability company.
“I have pursued excellence all my life. At KRC Genk, I feel that same fire and ambition,” Courtois told the club website. “This investment truly feels like coming home. Through this commitment, I want to help the club continue to grow and strengthen its sporting ambitions. From Limburg to the top of Europe.”
NxtPlay now sits on the board at Genk, with Vila managing that position for now as Courtois stays focused on his commitments in Madrid, but the shot-stopper is still helping to shape the club’s commercial strategy. He has carefully chosen teams with huge potential for growth, with the long-term goal of building a multi-club model, which the likes of the City Football Group, Red Bull Group and Blueco have established in recent years.
