The partnership aligns with the human performance company’s strategic global expansion plans, including in Saudi Arabia where Ronaldo plays professionally

Whoop has welcomed Cristiano Ronaldo as its newest global ambassador and investor as the human performance company specializing in fitness wearables eyes new markets including Saudia Arabia, where Ronaldo currently plays for Al-Nassr.

Specific financial terms of the deal couldn’t be disclosed but Whoop says it marks one of the soccer legend’s “most significant investments to date.” Ronaldo joins Whoop athlete-ambassadors including Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Olympic Gold Medal-winning swimmer Michael Phelps.

The partnership, announced this morning on Instagram Live, originated from Ronaldo’s organic use of Whoop’s signature health and fitness wearable.

“Cristiano has been a Whoop member for a number of years, and we’re proud to strengthen our relationship further through this partnership,” said Will Ahmed, Whoop’s founder and CEO. “Cristiano’s relentless pursuit of improvement and perfection mirrors our mission. We are looking forward to collaborating with him to share unprecedented insights into his training and recovery methods.”

“Together, we’ll unveil exciting product collaborations to enhance the Whoop experience for our members,” Ahmed added.

Ronaldo is one of the most decorated players in the history of soccer, winning five Ballon d’Ors, five UEFA Champions Leagues and domestic league titles in the Premier League (England) La Liga (Spain) and Serie A (Italy).

“Whoop has had a transformative impact on my life both on and off the pitch, and I’m honored to join the team as an investor,” said Cristiano Ronaldo. “I wear Whoop while training, sleeping, and recovering. It’s been one of the most important tools helping me elevate my game and monitor my health. I look forward to working with Whoop to continue to raise the bar on Whoop features and coaching”.

The leading scorer in the history of top-level association soccer with 891 goals, Ronaldo moved to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia in 2022.

Whoop, meanwhile, has announced its intentions to expand into Gulf Cooperation Council countries including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, along with areas like Hong Kong, Israel, Korea and Taiwan. Whoop also now ships to markets including India, Mexico and Brazil.

Whoop makes a fitness wearable that tracks things like recovery, sleep, and cardiovascular and strength training strain. The brand recently launched Whoop Coach, an AI-powered tool that uses ChatGPT tech to provide users with personalized, text-based health and fitness coaching.

The human performance company is expected to release Whoop 5.0 this fall, which could include features like built-in GPS for workout tracking and additional health metrics like blood oxygen levels and body temperature.