The world’s biggest and best football players are bona fide superstars. When they get the ball at their feet, magic happens. That’s what makes them revered and idolised by millions of people around the world.
It’s not just on the pitch that they ooze class though. The footballing elite lead a life of luxury in their downtime too, holidaying in the most exotic and idyllic places on the planet. But how do they get to these places – and where do they stay when they'rethere? Aboard a superyacht or mega yacht, of course.
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and David Beckham have all been snapped unwinding with their families on the most luxurious superyachts in the world. Whether they own their own eight-figure yacht or charter one worth tens of thousands per week, these sporting heavyweights are quick to hop on board any chance they get.
And who can blame them? Modern day superyachts are fantasy vessels: Opulent, private and kitted out with all the accessories you could possibly need– the key ingredients for a celebrity getaway.
But which iconic superyachts have hosted the biggest names from the beautiful game? And which footballer has the most expensive yacht? Join us as we answer these questions and tell you everything there is to know.
What is Cristiano Ronaldo’s yacht and what was the price?
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most successful and decorated players of his generation.
Widely regarded as the most prolific and devastatingly consistent footballerthe world has ever seen, Ronaldo has been the poster boy of the beautiful game for more than15 years. He has won many Ballon d’Or awards, often alternating with rival Lionel Messi, and to many football fans he is the best player ever because he has proven his quality in the three biggest leagues in European football.
A rising star at Manchester United in the Premier League in the 2000s, a superstar at Real Madrid in La Liga in the 2010s and a certified legend at Juventus in Serie A in the 2020s, Ronaldo has shown his enduring ability to rule the roost in every country he has plied his trade. His international career, withPortugal, has been equally impressive.
With legions of fans across Europe, and indeed the wider international football scene, it’s no wonder people take an interest in the luxurious life Ronaldo leads off the pitch – and his holidays aboard superyachts grab particular attention.
Ronaldo has been snapped aboard many yachts over the years, including Africa I, which he previously used to charter, but reports in 2020 indicated that he now owns a 26.8-metre (88-foot) Azimut-Benetti superyacht built at the shipyard’s base in Viareggio, Italy.
What is there to know about Ronaldo's yacht?
Worth around £5.5 million (c. €6.3 million), newspaper reports noted that Ronaldo purchased the yacht following Juventus’ Serie A title win at the conclusion of the 2019/2020 season, which had been temporarily curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The deluxe customised yacht is the perfect vessel for Ronaldo’s family holidays. She comprises five luxury cabins, six bathrooms, two relaxation areas, a spacious lounge, a dining room, a contemporary kitchen and full-height windows. She can also achieve an impressive 28 knots, courtesy of two 1,900 horsepower engines.
Photos of Ronaldo and his family enjoying their first holiday on the vessel emerged in June 2020 when his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez posted a number of snaps on Instagram. It gave everybody a glimpse into what life is like on board – and incited a lot of envy!
Following Portugal’s early exit from Euro 2020 (which took place in 2021), Ronaldo posted on Instagram a photo of him and his family enjoying some quality time on the yacht.
He will obviously spend a lot of time on board in the years ahead, but who knows,if he enjoys success at Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr,maybe Ronaldo will purchase another superyacht in celebration? We’ll be keeping our eyes peeled to find out.
What is Lionel Messi’s yacht and what was the price?
Lionel Messi is an anomaly when it comes to sporting icons. The Inter Miami star doesn’t look to embrace his celebrity status to the extent that his counterparts do, so he often goes under the radar in his personal life.
However, being the most naturally gifted footballing technician of the 21st century invariably leads to a lot of attention whether you crave it or not. Messi is idolised both in Europe and his homeland of Argentina given his exploits in the game, and it’s fair to say that star-struck onlookers and paparazzi take photos of him everywhere he goes.
Messi is not currently known to own his own yacht, but he has regularly been photographed chartering multi-million-pound yachts with his partner and a number of former Barcelona teammates.
Most recently, Messi was seen holidaying on board a private yacht in the Balearic Islands in 2019, with fellow superstarsCesc Fabregas and Luis Suarez alongside him.
Seven C, a 28-metre (92-foot) charter yacht, is every bit as glamorous as you might expect. First built in 2003 and refitted in 2011, Seven C has a number of key features and exudes luxury throughout. She sleeps ten guests across four cabins, comprising a master suite, a VIP stateroom, and two twin cabins.
Seven C has a spacious deck area and boasts an outdoor bar, allowing guests to rehydrate whilst sunbathing. With a host of entertainment features and a raft of the latest water toys, including a Waverunner, a couple of kayaks and a paddleboard, Seven C has everything professional athletes could possibly want.
The stunning superyacht is available to charter for around £38,000 (c. €44,000) per week – which is a mere fraction of Messi’s recent salaries at both Paris Saint-Germain and latterly Inter Miami.
It remains to be seen if Messi will charter Seven C again this year, but you wouldn’t rule it out.
What is David Beckham’s yacht and what was the price?
Becks. DB7. Arguably one of the greatest players to ever don an England shirt, it goes without saying that David Beckham is footballing royalty. He retired in 2013 but to this day remains one of the most talked about players in the game – the hallmark of a true great.
The former Manchester United, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, and LA Galaxy ace enjoyed an illustrious career and became the first real footballing celebrity when he burst onto the scene in the 1990s. He is now one of the most well-known men in the world and, as you might expect, the paparazzi follow wherever he goes.
He’s been photographed almost everywhere in the world at one time or another over the past 25 years and his holidays are no different. You won’t be surprised to read that one of his go-to places to unwind with his family is his very own superyacht.
Beckham owns a 27-metre (89-foot) Horizon E88 developed by Taiwanese yard Horizon Yachts. Nicknamed ‘The Sophisticated Lady’, the stylish yacht can accommodate up to eight people – perfect for small family trips (including Victoria, Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz, and Harper!) or low-key holidays with a small group of friends.
Valued at around £3.8 million (c. €4.38 million), she can reach impressive speeds of up to 34 knots, which is ideal for any choppy seas that are encountered. As one might expect, the interior design is bold, and there are a host of features that make this yacht a great space to entertain. There is also a well-equipped gym on board to ensure Becks and his guests have the opportunity to stay in shape.
Who wouldn’t want to own a yacht like this (pictured below), with the freedom it allows you to have?
It was reported in December 2021 that Becks had purchased another new superyacht ahead of Christmas - this time a 30-metre (100-foot) Ferretti. He helped to design the yacht himself and, upon delivery, was expected to cruise around the Florida Keys.
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