At 31 years old, Real Madrid icon Cristiano Ronaldo has plenty of talent left in the tank before he contemplates retirement, but the Portugal captain is already taking steps for life after football with the launch of yet another hotel. Ronaldo, who already owns a hotel in his home of Madeira, announced the opening of the Pestana CR7 Lisboa hotel in Lisbon, home of his former club, Sporting CP.
“Life is not just about football,” Ronaldo said, as quoted by ESPN FC. “Although football is my grand passion, I must start to think about the future. I don’t have many years left, about 10 more or less, so I must look to the future.”
See a photo of the Pestana CR7 Lisboa hotel after the break
Added Ronaldo:
“When I was young I had the dream of having my own hotel. Now I have two, and I am proud it is in Lisbon. I couldn’t not have a hotel in Lisbon, a city which is part of my history as I have played here.”
The 82-room hotel is located in the heart of the Baixa in Lisbon, and has plenty of finishing touches paying homage to Ronaldo.
The CR7 experience begins as soon as guests step in the lobby from the animated screens in the lifts that explore Cristiano Ronaldo’s life story to the surround sound sensors in the staircases which project the sounds of cheering fans in a football stadium. In the rooms, the world of sports continues with a detailed sequence of seven footsteps on the carpets that replicated the real sprint of Ronaldo.
Ronaldo’s other business ventures include a line of headphones, underwear, and sports nutrition products. Marca reports that Pestana and Ronaldo have plans for two more hotels, in Madrid and New York, with €15 million invested in the partnership already.
Congrats, Ronaldo.