AI-generated summary
NBA players are increasingly investing in soccer clubs worldwide to diversify their brands and secure long-term financial interests outside of basketball.
Basketball superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander joins the traditional Spanish football club Atlético Madrid and becomes part of the ownership group. "I am delighted to now officially be part of the ownership group of Atlético Madrid. This club has been at the top of European football for many years. I am grateful for the opportunity to play a part in its future," said the Canadian.
The 28-year-old was voted the NBA's most valuable player in each of the past two seasons and won the championship with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2025. Atlético Madrid said: “The partnership is based on shared values: ambition, excellence and the belief that every success is hard-earned.”
The Spanish top club did not provide any information about Gilgeous-Alexander's stake in Atlético. According to media reports, the NBA professional has acquired a small stake in the club. Gilgeous-Alexander signed a four-year contract in 2025 worth around $285 million.
Gilgeous-Alexander succeeds LeBron James
Gilgeous-Alexander isn't the first world-class basketball player to invest in football. Four-time NBA champion LeBron James became a minority shareholder in Premier League club Liverpool FC in 2011 along with his business partner Maverick Carter. Ten years after joining, James injected more money and increased his shares in the English club.
Since then, further investments by NBA stars have followed in Europe and North America, in both men's and women's soccer. Kevin Durant invested in the Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain in July 2025. The Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo joined the ownership circle of the Chelsea FC women's team in February 2026. In 2023 he acquired shares in Nashville SC in the North American Major League Soccer.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
More NBA players will invest in European soccer clubs in the next 12 months.
Likely · Within months
National coach Eric Frenzel and Olympic champion Vinzenz Geiger warn of the demise of Nordic combined following the IOC decision to remove the sport from the Olympic Games from 2030. Loss of funding endangers existence.

With a gala performance and 17 goals, world handball player Mathias Gidsel led the Füchse Berlin to a 40:32 win against FC Porto in the Champions League, setting a 17-year-old goal record.

The New York Yankees were eliminated from the MLB playoffs after losing 3-4 to the Tampa Bay Rays. A fan prevented Anthony Volpe from hitting a home run in the sixth inning by making an illegal reach over the boundary.
Heavy smoke from forest fires in Indonesia has led to alarmingly high air pollution levels in Singapore just before the Formula 1 night race takes place. The organizer emphasizes that no program changes are currently planned, while the FIA warns of possible restrictions on outdoor activities.

Former ski star Lindsey Vonn, who had a serious fall at the Olympic Games in February and whose career was considered certain, is surprisingly in the US squad for the coming season. This raises questions about a possible comeback.
SC Freiburg achieved record sales of 212.1 million euros in the 2025/2026 season, as the club announced at the general meeting. This is an increase compared to 162.8 million euros in the previous season and also exceeds the first turnover above 200 million euros from the 2023/2024 season. CFO Oliver Leki cited reaching the Europa League final and the DFB Cup semi-finals as well as high transfer surpluses as the main reasons.