Paris Saint-Germain superstar Lionel Messi has enjoyed monumental success on the pitch — and now he’s looking to secure some wins in venture capital.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or award winner has launched a holding company that will target investments in sports, media, and technology.
Play Time Sports-Tech is based in California and will look to invest in “stage agnostic” opportunities, including helping soccer-focused tech startups get off the ground.
- Play Time will be run by Graph Ventures partner Razmig Hovaghimian.
- The firm has already invested in Matchday.com — a soccer-focused gaming venture.
- Play Time also holds a stake in soccer collectibles marketplace AC Momento.
Messi — who has rotated in and out of the No. 1 spot on Forbes’ list of highest-paid soccer players since 2014 with Cristiano Ronaldo — is the second-highest-paid player in the world for the 2022-23 season. Messi is expected to earn $110 million this season, including endorsements.
Last Go Round
When asked if the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar would be his last, Messi said, “Yes, definitely yes.” Qatar — whose population was roughly 3 million as of Oct. 14 — has sold 2.9 million tickets, per FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Qatar expects more than 1 million foreign visitors and thousands of domestic fans to attend.
