We are so used to seeing Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo fight it out on the soccer pitch in pursuit of becoming the GOAT. But today we are not talking about Ballon d’Ors, La Liga titles, or World Cups – we are talking about hotels!
Both Messi and Ronaldo have their fingers in a number of pies across the business world, but one overlapping sector of interest is hotels.
Messi has a number of extravagant buildings to his name, including the Seasun Fona in Majorca, hotels in Ibiza and Barcelona, and a 141-room Pyrenees ski resort.
In comparison, Ronaldo invested in a hotel chain across Madeira and Lisbon in Portugal called Pestana CR7. He also had hotels in Madrid and New York, as well as upcoming plans for a 150-room Manchester site – a throwback to his glory days with the Red Devils.
But who has the best hotel?
There is no doubt that Lionel Messi’s most impressive and prestige hotel is the Hotel Mim Ibiza es Vive. He purchased the building in 2018, which boasts 52 individual luxury rooms and does not allow any child guests. Rather ironically, Ronaldo allegedly had his eye on the Balearic Island hotel before Messi swooped in. It boasts an incredible pool and a rooftop bar with stunning views, as well as a $650 per night fee. The Hotel Mim Ibiza es Vive has a 4.4 out of 5 rating on Trip Advisor.
Ronaldo went down the budget route with his Pestana CR7 chain, although the Lisboa site follows the same Art Deco style as Messi’s expensive hotel. The property is located close to downtown Lisbon and even includes various nods to Ronaldo’s playing career as a unique touch. Some rooms even contain official Ronaldo memorabilia! Of course, the hotel includes a sports bar, so you never have to miss a Ronaldo match, and they even hand out free mobile phones during your stay. Just as Ronaldo and Messi could hardly be separated on the pitch, the Pestana CR7 Lisboa also has a 4.4 out of 5 rating on Trip Advisor.
Both Messi and Ronaldo are looking to expand their hotel empires in the coming years, with Messi just refurbishing the Hotel Mallorca Fona and splashing out on his biggest purchase yet, an iconic ski hotel in the Spanish Pyrenees. Ronaldo, meanwhile, is looking to take his Pestana CR7 chain overseas, and is planning new properties in Paris, Manchester, and Marrakech.
While Messi and Ronaldo are drifting into their twilight years on the pitch and many will argue for decades who the true GOAT is, it appears they are set to do battle in the hotel industry for many more years to come.
