As the World Cup in Qatar has begun, we are going to have a look at some of the football legends and club owners who own superyachts.
As the FIFA World Cup has begun in Qatar, we thought it might be interesting to see how some of the world’s favourite footballers and football club owners spend their time away from the pitch. It has become a popular pastime for many of these football superstars to spend their holidays onboard superyachts across the world. We have picked out a few of our favourite yachts which have been sold to these sporting celebrities.
David Beckham
British football legend David Beckham is the proud owner of Inter Miami FC and is renowned across the world for his world-class skills on the pitch. As a retired footballer and still earning over £3.4 million a year, he has recently joined the exclusive group of superyacht owners. His superyacht named SEVEN after his playing shirt number, as well as his daughter’s middle name, is a 28.55m yacht built by the Italian builder Riva and is one of 22 Argo 90 models. Delivered in 2021, she has a top speed of 30kn and a cruising speed of 25kn. She can accommodate a maximum of 8 guests with 2 crew members providing for their needs. The Beckhams have spent a lot of time onboard SEVEN in Miami ahead of their son Brooklyn’s wedding earlier this year. This motor yacht, a gift to the family for Christmas, is thought to have been funded by his $150m deal as the face of the World Cup this year.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Portuguese football superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo, is often considered the best player in the world and has a net worth of around $500 million. In 2020, Ronaldo bought the luxurious 27m Azimut Grande, which boasts 5 spacious cabins and 6 lavish bathrooms to accommodate up to 8 guests. She has a top speed of 27kn and a cruising speed of 24kn, and 3 crew members are there to cater to the family’s every need. The yacht provides dynamic stability due to its carbon-fiber structure and is equipped with plenty of space and comfort. During the summers, Ronaldo and his family set sail on his yacht enjoying his luxurious getaway from playing on the football field and spending time with his family.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, owner of Newcastle FC
Owner of Newcastle United Football Club, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia with a net worth of $18 billion dollars, is believed to own the superyacht SERENE. In 2014, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bought SERENE for approximately €500 million. The 133.9-metre vessel was built by Fincantieri, is their 2nd largest boat, and has a cruising speed of 15 knots and a top speed of 25 knots. In 2011, SERENE was listed as one of the 10 largest superyachts in the world boasting two helicopter landing pads, multiple swimming pools, a spa and a sauna, a snow room for a Nordic experience, and an outdoor cinema. With more than 4,000 square meters of interior space, she has been designed comfortably to accommodate up to 24 guests in 12 suites comprising of an Owner’s Sea cabin with a private elevator and swim platform. Her onboard features include a dancefloor, an indoor climbing wall, a children’s playroom, and an underwater viewing room with space for a large submarine.
Joe Lewis, majority owner of Tottenham Hotspur
Joe Lewis, who is the majority owner of Tottenham Hotspur, owns Abeking & Rasmussen superyacht AVIVA. The 98.4-metre vessel, worth $250 million, has a hybrid drive system whereby using just electric power offers smooth manoeuvring and a silent 11 Knot running at night. She can cruise at 11 knots and has a maximum speed of 20 knots. In 2017, AVIVA was the 46th longest yacht in the world, with few boats of her length that could match her volume. The multi-award-winning yacht has a blue steel hull. She can accommodate up to 16 guests in 8 suites, with capabilities of carrying up to 35 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed, luxury experience. AVIVA’s onboard features include a full-sized piano, an elevator, underwater lights, a beach club, and a gym. Whilst building this vessel, the main brief was ‘to build a big yacht around a paddle tennis court’, according to Boat International and therefore, AVIVA offers a paddle tennis court, which measures 20 metres long by 10 metres wide.
