Why Professional Footballers Are Embracing Padel: An In-Depth Look

From Zinedine Zidane to Cristiano Ronaldo, and including stars like Zlatan Ibrahimović and Neymar Jr., padel courts are increasingly appearing in elite training centers, private residences of sports billionaires, and even at international tournaments. This phenomenon has become so prominent that it can be considered one of the most subtle transformations in professional sports culture.

Padel: The New Sensation Among Football Stars

Beyond the spectacle and Instagram trends, there lies a concrete reality: padel meets specific needs that elite footballers cannot find elsewhere. It addresses physical efficiency, psychological accessibility, and offers significant financial returns.

Footstorm conducted an investigation with official sources, scientific studies, padel decision-makers, and press archives to understand this phenomenon that is redefining the physical preparation and entertainment of football elites.

The Market Explosion: Numbers and Global Context

Before discussing the stars, it is crucial to grasp the scale of this movement. Padel is not a fleeting trend; it represents a documented sports revolution.

The Numbers Speak

According to the FIP World Padel Report 2025, over 35 million padel players are active worldwide, with a 16.1% increase in clubs, 15.2% in courts, and a 42% rise in registered members with national federations compared to the previous year.

For comparison, in 2018, there were only 8 million padel players. In just ten years, the sport has quadrupled its player base.

Infrastructure is also following this exponential trajectory. By 2024, 3,282 new padel clubs opened globally, averaging nearly 9 new clubs per day, or one every two and a half hours. In 2025 alone, 14,355 new courts were constructed, bringing the global total to 77,300.

Padel in France: A Remarkable Acceleration

France, a key market for Footstorm, has experienced impressive dynamics. The Observatoire du Padel 2025 confirms that participation has reached 850,000 players, a 130% increase compared to 2022. France has seen a 55% growth in the number of padel courts within 18 months, adding 1,850 courts and raising the total to over 4,000.

To put this into perspective: in 2022, France had only 2,200 courts. Today, it boasts more than 4,100, and the growth continues.

Demographics and Typical Profile

The sport primarily attracts those aged 25 to 44, who make up 53% of participants. However, contrary to popular belief, padel also appeals to children and retirees, with female participation nearing 40%.

The sport showcases a 50-50 gender ratio, making it one of the most inclusive sports in terms of participation.

Massive Investments: When Football Legends Become Entrepreneurs

This is where the fascinating story begins. Beyond friendly matches or recovery sessions, the biggest football stars have invested millions of euros in padel—not just to play but to build an empire.

This is no coincidence. It is a strategic calculation: a growing industry at +26% annually, a sport with a "sticky" factor (92% of people return after their first session), and the potential for long-term profitability.

Zinedine Zidane: The French Ambassador Building an Empire

The most significant entrepreneurial success story in padel remains that of Zinedine Zidane.

Massive Investment in France

Zinedine Zidane plans to invest 5 million euros in constructing a padel complex in France, named Z5, which will be the first of its kind in the country. Located in Toulouges, less than 30 km north of the Franco-Spanish border, the center will feature 13 padel courts, two five-a-side football pitches, and a beach volleyball court, with construction set to begin in early 2026.

The Z5 Ecosystem

Zidane is not stopping at a mere complex. The former footballer, who already owns several clubs in France and Italy, aims to expand his Z5 Padel brand into the Spanish capital.

In Provence, just days before significant deadlines, Olympique de Marseille opted for a unique approach by enjoying a padel session at Z5 Padel in Aix-en-Provence, the complex envisioned by Zidane. This serves as a case study: a Ligue 1 club endorsing padel as a tool for physical preparation and team-building.

Zidane's Strategic Vision

Mario Cordero interviewed Zidane in Spanish during the inauguration of the new Z5 center in Istres, where Zidane stated: "Padel is developing rapidly in France."

For Zidane, this is not merely a business venture. It is a belief: padel is the future of physical preparation and sports leisure in Europe.

Cristiano Ronaldo: The Investor of 5 Million in Lisbon

While Zidane is building an empire, Ronaldo does so with a slightly different precision and scope: that of a superstar with a billion followers.

Acquisition and Investments in Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo has finalized the acquisition of the Lisboa Racket Centre, located in Alvalade, after announcing an investment in developing Cidade do Padel in Oeiras. Renovation of the Lisboa Racket Centre began in February 2025, fully funded by Ronaldo, with the complex set to become one of the most advanced in Europe, featuring 17 padel courts, 11 of which will be covered.

Details of the Cidade do Padel Project

However, the true project is Cidade do Padel. Ronaldo will fund the construction of a modern padel club in Oeiras, a city in the Lisbon district with a population of over 100,000. The project will include 17 courts, with 11 being enclosed, and a central court with a capacity for 2,000 spectators, along with a 500-space parking lot, a restaurant, and a gym.

Ronaldo's Global Impact

Cristiano Ronaldo acquired 100% of the shares of the Lisboa Racket Centre in a deal worth 5.4 million dollars, marking his first major investment outside of football and reinforcing the global rise of padel.

However, the most impressive aspect is what Ricardo Oliveira, president of the Portuguese Padel Federation, stated: "Cristiano's involvement won’t just change padel in Portugal—it will change it globally." Oliveira added, "He trains every day for soccer, but I’ve been told he plays padel almost daily as well. He truly loves it."

This is a significant validation. The world's number seven in football is not playing padel due to a trend; he plays it daily.

Ronaldo as a Spectator and Promoter

Ronaldo's interest in padel is not new. Recently, he has become more involved in the sport, attending tournaments and spending time with professional players. At the recent Premier Pádel Riyadh Season P1, the Al Nassr striker was not only present in the box but also streamed the finals live on his YouTube channel, where he acted as a commentator.

With over a billion combined followers, each post of Ronaldo's about padel reaches an audience equivalent to 10% of the global population.

Zlatan Ibrahimović: The Swedish Champion Redefining Nordic Padel

Zlatan didn’t wait for padel to be cool; he made it cool.

The Padel Zenter Empire in Sweden

Zlatan Ibrahimović, the famous Swedish striker, opened his own padel club in Stockholm. PadelZenter features 9 pillar courts and a panoramic court designed, manufactured, and installed by AFP Courts.

However, this development dates back to 2019. Since then, Zlatan has embarked on significant expansion.

Transforming Padel Zenter into a Multi-Sport Ecosystem

Padel Zenter in Örebro, Sweden, is expanding by introducing a new concept: Football Zenter, where the complex will include a five-a-side football pitch and three Zpeed courts. Padel Zenter currently has facilities in Milan, Uppsala (Sweden), Örebro (Sweden), Skövde (Sweden), Jönköping (Sweden), and plans to open a new location in northern Stockholm (Sweden) soon.

Stockholm 2024: The Ultimate Flagship

The legendary Swedish footballer Zlatan Ibrahimović has opened a state-of-the-art padel facility in Sollentuna, Stockholm, under his Padel Zenter brand. Although many padel establishments in Sweden have closed due to market saturation, Zlatan remains optimistic about the sport's future. "I love padel and truly believe in it. It’s the fastest-growing sport in the world, and I want to give Sweden a chance to continue playing without the closure of complexes. If I’m honest, I think it’s the best padel complex in Sweden—if not the world."

Impact on Sweden

Why is this significant? Because Zlatan's investments have contributed to a surge in padel in Sweden. Over 5% of the Swedish population had booked a padel court in 2020, marking a 185% increase compared to 2019!

Zlatan has not just created clubs; he has fostered a culture.

Others: Neymar, Messi, Beckham, Nadal

Neymar: The Brazilian Builder

Neymar Jr., the Brazilian star, has constructed two courts for play at his luxurious home in Brazil. While Neymar is thousands of miles away, he hasn’t abandoned padel. Currently in Brazil to represent his beloved Santos FC, the global football star shared his playing sessions on social media over the weekend.

Lionel Messi: The Discreet Player

Football legend Lionel Messi has had a love affair with padel, so much so that he built a padel court at his home in Barcelona, Spain. In an interview with the Argentine media outlet Diario Olé, the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner reminisced about his "secret passions": "I love padel and I also enjoy watching tennis. I often play with Pepe Costa. I run, and he does the rest. However, I don’t play much; I have matches every three days..."

David Beckham: The Ambassador of Premier Padel

Former striker and Manchester United legend David Beckham is now the face of Premier Padel, the new Saudi league, and was present at the launch event in April this year.

The former Real Madrid player and current president and co-owner of Inter Miami CF stated: "It’s a sport I suddenly fell in love with. I train and enjoy it at the same time, and doing it in a place like this is fantastic. You can play at any level, whether you’re a child or an adult."

Rafael Nadal: The Tennis Champion Rediscovering Padel

Rafael Nadal has shown remarkable competitiveness in padel. After tennis, Nadal enjoys playing padel. The 22-time Grand Slam champion, known for his love of golf and football, has recently focused on padel. He has been seen playing doubles matches with his former coach Carlos Moya at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor in videos from early 2025.

This growing interest among top athletes underscores the vibrant future of padel as it continues to carve out its place in the sports landscape.