Summary
- Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi both own luxurious private jets worth millions of dollars.
- Neymar Jr. flies in his own private plane and many others, including a private Boeing 747.
- Other retired football stars like Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic also own high-end private jets.
It's no secret that being a professional athlete with hundreds of caps for club and country can earn you a lot of money. Top athletes across various disciplines, like tennis, golf, football, basketball, and motorsports, earn millions of dollars annually.
In addition to buying luxury vehicles and traveling to the most exclusive destinations, many spend part of their earnings on acquiring private jets. With footballers being among the top earners in sports, let us look at some current and former players with their own planes.
1 Cristiano Ronaldo - Al Nassr FC
Gulfstream G650 ($73 million)
Cabin length | 46 ft 10 in (14.27 m) |
Capacity | Up to 19 passengers |
Range | 7,000 NM (13,000 km) |
Top speed | Mach 0.85 - 0.90 (903 - 956 km/h) |
Considered one of the greatest athletes of all time, it's not surprising that Cristiano Ronaldo has one of the most luxurious private jets. In addition to being among the top players in the game, the Portuguese captain is also one of the richest, having spent his time playing for top clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus.
Photo: Art Konovalov | Shutterstock
Ronaldo acquired his first private jet, a Gulfstream G200, in 2015 for about $25 million. A few years later, he had two jets in his fleet after purchasing a Gulfstream G650, worth about $73 million, as reported by TheRichest. However, CR7, as he is affectionately known, put the G200 up for sale in 2022, but there are no confirmed reports of him finding a buyer.
The Gulfstream G650 he still travels with is one of the most exclusive business jets on the market. Ronaldo's jet has private bedrooms with queen-sized beds, an ensuite bathroom, and a spacious cabin. It can accommodate up to 19 passengers with enough space for everyone to sleep, work, and eat.
2 Lionel Messi - Inter Miami CF
Gulfstream V ($15 million)
Registration | LV-IRQ |
Age | 22 years |
Range | 6,500 NM (12,000 km) |
Capacity | 15 - 19 passengers |
Second on our list is Cristiano Ronaldo's lifelong rival, Lionel Messi. Having spent several years at Barcelona making thousands of dollars per week from wages and multiple sponsorship deals, the Argentine captain decided to get his own private jet in 2018. It reportedly cost him just under $15 million.
Photo: Victor | Flickr
It allows him more convenient travel between his home in South America and Europe, where he spent most of his time as a player. These days, the Gulfstream V can be spotted a lot more in the US since Messi moved to Florida-based Inter Miami CF. The jet is fitted with 16 seats that can be converted into eight beds and other exclusive features like a kitchen and private bathroom.
While the livery is not as eye-catching as Max Verstappen's Dassault Falcon 900EX or Lewis Hamilton's Bombardier Challenger, it can be identified as Messi's jet with the Number 10 on the tail. To further personalize it, the staircase is inscribed with his name, his wife Antonella, and three children: Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro.
3 Neymar Jr - Al Hilal SFC
Cessna Citation Sovereign ($22 million)
Brazillian star Neymar Jr owns a Cessna Citation Sovereign (Model 680) worth about $22 million. Multiple reports suggest that the Brazillian star also owns a helicopter and an Embraer Phenom 100. However, the Cessna 680 is the one he's been seen jetting off in. His private collection also has a yacht and various supercars.
Range | 3,200 NM (5,900 km) |
Capacity | 12 passengers |
Top speed | Mach 0.80 |
Neymar has been seen flying in more exclusive jets despite having his own plane. Last year, Al-Hilal flew him to Saudi Arabia on a private Boeing 747. The $200 million jumbo is one of the world's largest and most expensive private jets, belonging to Saudi Arabia's Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. It has luxurious bedrooms, bathrooms, and an impressive golden throne in the middle of the cabin.
4 Wayne Rooney - Retired in 2021
Dassault Falcon 900LX ($20 million)
Capacity | 12 - 14 passengers |
Range | 4,750 NM (8,800 km) |
Top speed | Mach 0.84 |
While the former Everton and Manchester United Striker Wayne Rooney may have hung his football boots up in favor of a suit and tie, the 38-year-old former England star still travels in style. Rooney has a Dassault Falcon 900LX valued at about $20 million. The business jet resembles the English star's footballing career with its versatility and reliability.
Fitted with various luxurious amenities, the Falcon 900LX can accommodate up to 14 passengers. While Rooney's managerial career had a difficult start, he saw an illustrious career when he was a player, becoming the all-time top scorer of Manchester United and England's Three Lions. However, the latter was broken by the current England captain, Harry Kane.
5 David Beckham - Retired in 2013
Bombardier Challenger 350 ($24 million)
Wayne Rooney's former England teammate David Beckham knows how to travel in style as much as he can bend the football around a wall of defenders. The retired winger and owner of Lionel Messi's current team, Inter Miami, owns a Bombardier Challenger 350.
The jet is fitted with oversized windows for a better view, and, like all other players' business jets, it features luxurious amenities to offer an enhanced travel experience.
Photo: Bombardier
Capacity | Up to 10 passengers |
Range | 3,200 NM (5,926 km) |
Top speed | Mach 0.83 |
According to Bombardier, the Challenger 350 is the best-selling business jet among top corporate flight departments and charter operators around the world. It has a large cabin, allowing David and his family to relax when traveling on long intercontinental flights. The Challenger 350 also promises a quiet cabin, which is essential on any trip.
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6 Zlatan Ibrahimovic - Retired in 2023
Cessna Citation Longitude ($26 million)
Capacity | 12 passengers |
Range | 3,500 NM (6,482 km) |
Top speed | Mach 0.84 |
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is by far one of the most charismatic football players of all time, and his retirement from AC Milan last year marked an emotional day for many fans worldwide. Although he never won a Ballon d'Or like some of the other players on our list, he finished his career with over 500 goals for club and country.
The former Swedish captain is known for his humor off the field, but also his love for luxurious items. His private collection includes a Cessna Citation Longitude. It is one of the largest business jets, which makes it a great choice for the 6 ft 4" (1.95 m) Swede.
It can accommodate the starting lineup of a football team and delivers exceptional range and overall performance. According to Textron Aviation, it has an hourly operating cost of $2,455.
What are your thoughts on these luxurious planes? Which jet would you buy if you were a football star? Please let us know in the comments!
