Could Cristiano Ronaldo play for Almería? This is what the rule book says
Soccer great Cristiano Ronaldo has acquired a 25% stake in Spanish Segunda División club UD Almería, it emerged on Thursday.
Cristiano Ronaldo now owns 25% of second-tier Spanish soccer club UD Almería, a development that became public on Thursday. The Portuguese star is now fully stepping into club ownership despite the fact that his top‑level professional career isn’t over yet. Ronaldo is still under contract with Saudi team Al Nassr through June 2027.
Could the 41-year-old sign for Almería afterward? It’s a very relevant question, but Spain’s regulations are crystal clear. The National Sports Council’s Sports Law and the Spanish Soccer Federation’s (RFEF) statutes prohibit an active player from having business ties with the Spanish league and competing in the country. That means Ronaldo would be barred from playing for Almería - or any Spanish club - as it would present an obvious conflict of interest.
Anti-Piqué Law
Approved in February 2025, the regulation was originally christened the “Anti‑Piqué Law", and not because of Gerard Piqué’s ownership of Segunda División club FC Andorra. The measure was implemented after Piqué, then still a Barcelona player, was involved through one of his companies in negotiating and managing the RFEF’s contracts for the Spanish Super Cup. At the time, Piqué acted as an intermediary between the federation - then led by Luis Rubiales - and Saudi Arabia for staging the tournament in the Middle Eastern country.
It’s a rule designed to safeguard the integrity of competitions, and it therefore bans Ronaldo, or any other active footballer, from playing in the Spanish league as long as they hold related business interests. A similar situation could arise in the future if Ronaldo’s former Real Madrid teammate, Sergio Ramos, completes his mooted move into Sevilla’s ownership structure.
Related stories
Get your game on! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visuals on all the biggest soccer news and insights.
Complete your personal details to comment