Key Takeaways
- • Lionel Messi has launched Play Time, a San Francisco-based venture capital fund focused on sports, media, and technology, according to Entrepreneur, while his public focus remains on his retirement from international football.
- • The fund's operating vehicle is Play Time Sports-Tech HoldCo LLC, which will be run by Razmig Hovaghimian.
- • Play Time is Messi's third venture, per the publication's reporting.
- • The fund initially targeted around $200 million, according to Entrepreneur, and has built a portfolio resembling that of a Silicon Valley VC firm.
- • Messi retired from international football on 31 August 2026, ending his Argentina career.
Summary
Entrepreneur reports that Lionel Messi, who retired from international football on 31 August 2026 following his Argentina career, has been quietly running a venture capital fund. The fund, Play Time, is based in San Francisco and focuses on investments in sports, media, and technology. According to the publication, it is Messi's third business venture. The vehicle behind it, Play Time Sports-Tech HoldCo LLC, will be managed by Razmig Hovaghimian.
Per Entrepreneur, the fund initially targeted around $200 million and has since built a portfolio that resembles that of a Silicon Valley VC firm. The available material does not provide a full list of portfolio companies or deal-level detail, and the source text could not be retrieved in full, so further specifics on holdings, fund size at close, or limited partner composition cannot be confirmed from the available reporting.
Per Entrepreneur, the fund initially targeted around $200 million and has since built a portfolio that resembles that of a Silicon Valley VC firm. The available material does not provide a full list of portfolio companies or deal-level detail, and the source text could not be retrieved in full, so further specifics on holdings, fund size at close, or limited partner composition cannot be confirmed from the available reporting.
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