PADEL CULTURE AND FAMOUS PLAYERS
Celebrities Playing Padel 2026: 11 Inspiring Famous Faces
Celebrities Playing Padel 2026 examines 11 inspiring famous faces linked to recreational play, club investment or professional team ownership. For UK readers, the list separates confirmed commercial involvement from less formal public appearances and explains how celebrity visibility connects with padel’s rapid development across Britain.
Celebrity interest does not explain padel’s growth by itself. The sport already has an accessible doubles format, compact courts and a strong club culture. However, well-known players and investors give padel more visibility and can introduce UK audiences to a sport they may not yet have played or watched professionally.
Why Do Celebrities Play Padel?
A social doubles format
Four people normally share the court. That makes padel suitable for friendly competition, team events and mixed playing levels.
A manageable entry point
Beginners can often start rallies quickly, although positioning, wall play and shot selection still take time to learn.
Strong spectator visibility
Glass walls, compact courts and short rallies make the sport easy to film and share, helping celebrity padel players reach new audiences.
The wider growth is measurable. The International Padel Federation reported in June 2026 that padel had reached approximately 38 million players across 178 countries and territories, supported by 85,000 courts and 27,000 clubs. Celebrity visibility is one part of that broader development, not the sole cause.
11 Famous People Connected to Padel in 2026
PLAYER AND INVESTOR
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo has one of the clearest commercial links among footballers who play padel. The Portuguese Padel Federation has identified Ronaldo and Filipe de Botton as partners supporting the Cidade do Padel project in Oeiras. The International Padel Federation has also described Ronaldo’s enthusiasm for the sport and his involvement with the Lisboa Racket Centre.
Evidence level: Federation documentation and reported commercial investment.
CLUB FOUNDER
2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Padel Zenter states that Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thomas Sandstrom founded the club business. This moves Ibrahimovic beyond casual participation and places him among the most established celebrity investors in padel facilities.
Evidence level: Official Padel Zenter company information.
TEAM CO-OWNER
3. Lionel Messi
The Hexagon Cup has named Lionel Messi among the global sports figures connected with ownership of a professional padel team. His association is more accurately described as team-level involvement than as evidence of a personal padel club chain.
Evidence level: Official Hexagon Cup team information.
TEAM OWNER
4. Sergio Aguero
Sergio “Kun” Aguero is associated with KRU Padel in the Hexagon Cup structure. The official competition lists Aguero among the public figures leading teams in its international team format.
Evidence level: Official Hexagon Cup team information.
INVESTOR AND TEAM FIGURE
5. Andy Murray
The Andy Murray padel connection includes documented investment. Game4Padel confirms that Murray invested in the business in 2019. He is also connected with the AD/vantage team in the Hexagon Cup, combining UK padel investment with participation in a professional team competition.
Evidence level: Official Game4Padel and Hexagon Cup information.
TEAM OWNER
6. Eva Longoria
The Eva Longoria padel connection is a documented ownership role. She became an owner of ElevenEleven Team USA in the Hexagon Cup, rather than being included only because of photographs or a one-off appearance.
Evidence level: Official Hexagon Cup announcement.
TEAM OWNER
7. Pierre Gasly
Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly is linked with the 10 Padel Alpine team. His role gives motorsport a formal presence in the professional team competition, rather than relying only on informal sessions between drivers.
Evidence level: Official Hexagon Cup team information.
TEAM OWNER
8. Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski is associated with the RL9 Padel Team. The Hexagon Cup lists the footballer-led team among its official line-up.
TEAM CO-OWNER
9. Anthony Joshua
British boxer Anthony Joshua joined AD/vantage as a co-owner, adding another recognised athlete from outside racket sports to the competition.
ACADEMY TEAM
10. Rafael Nadal
The Rafa Nadal Academy is represented through its Hexagon Cup team. This should be described as academy involvement rather than automatically implying a separate personal club investment by Nadal.
PUBLIC PLAYER
11. Charles Leclerc
Charles Leclerc has publicly shared padel activity, making him one of the better-known Formula 1 celebrity padel players. Public play does not by itself establish a business or ownership relationship.
Celebrities Playing Padel 2026 Comparison Table
| Famous person | Known for | Documented padel connection | Best classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Football | Cidade do Padel and Lisboa Racket Centre involvement | Player and investor |
| Zlatan Ibrahimovic | Football | Co-founder of Padel Zenter | Club founder |
| Lionel Messi | Football | Hexagon Cup team connection | Team co-owner |
| Sergio Aguero | Football | KRU Padel | Team owner |
| Andy Murray | Tennis | Game4Padel investor and AD/vantage figure | Investor and team figure |
| Eva Longoria | Film and television | ElevenEleven Team USA | Team owner |
| Pierre Gasly | Formula 1 | 10 Padel Alpine | Team owner |
| Robert Lewandowski | Football | RL9 Padel Team | Team owner |
| Anthony Joshua | Boxing | AD/vantage | Team co-owner |
| Rafael Nadal | Tennis | Rafa Nadal Academy team | Academy connection |
| Charles Leclerc | Formula 1 | Publicly shared recreational padel activity | Public player |
Celebrity Players and Celebrity Investors Are Not the Same
A useful celebrity padel guide should distinguish between four different relationships:
- Recreational player: publicly seen or self-documented playing padel.
- Club investor or founder: financially connected with a facility or operating business.
- Professional team owner: linked to a named team in an organised competition.
- Academy or brand connection: represented through an academy, organisation or commercial partnership.
This distinction prevents a social post from being misrepresented as ownership. Cristiano Ronaldo padel coverage and Zlatan Ibrahimovic padel coverage include documented business relationships, while other famous people who play padel may have only a recreational connection.
What the Celebrity Padel Trend Means Across the UK
Padel in the UK is developing through a growing mix of dedicated clubs, converted tennis facilities, leisure centres and private operators. Celebrity attention may encourage a first booking, but accessible courts, beginner sessions, coaching and transparent prices are more important for sustained participation.
Players can use the Padel Courts UK hub to compare city guides, including padel courts in London, padel courts in Manchester, padel in Birmingham, padel in Leeds and padel in Edinburgh. New players can also review Learn Padel, how to play padel and the UK padel rules guide.
10 Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which celebrities play padel in 2026?
Documented examples include Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Andy Murray, Eva Longoria, Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Robert Lewandowski, Pierre Gasly, Anthony Joshua, Rafael Nadal and Charles Leclerc. Their involvement ranges from recreational play to investment or professional team ownership.
2. Why is padel popular with celebrities?
Its doubles format is social, the basic game is comparatively approachable, and the compact court is suitable for private clubs, events and shareable video content.
3. Does Cristiano Ronaldo play padel?
The International Padel Federation has described Ronaldo as passionate about padel. His commercial involvement also includes projects connected with Portuguese padel facilities.
4. Does Cristiano Ronaldo own a padel club?
Ronaldo has documented commercial involvement with the Lisboa Racket Centre and the Cidade do Padel project. Ownership structures can be more complex than a single-person club, so it is more accurate to describe him as an investor and commercial partner.
5. Which footballers have invested in padel?
Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have documented facility-related investments. Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Robert Lewandowski have also been linked to professional team ownership or leadership through the Hexagon Cup structure.
6. Is Eva Longoria involved in professional padel?
Yes. The Hexagon Cup announced Eva Longoria as an owner of ElevenEleven Team USA.
7. Is Andy Murray involved in padel?
Yes. Game4Padel states that Andy Murray invested in the company in 2019. He has also been connected with the AD/vantage team.
8. Which Formula 1 drivers are linked with padel?
Pierre Gasly has a formal Hexagon Cup team connection through 10 Padel Alpine. Charles Leclerc has also publicly shared recreational padel activity.
9. Has celebrity involvement caused padel’s global growth?
Celebrity visibility may support awareness, but it is not the only cause. Club investment, court construction, booking technology, organised competition and the sport’s approachable doubles format are also important.
10. Where can beginners play padel in the UK?
Beginner sessions and court hire are available across London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Edinburgh and many other UK cities. Compare location, indoor or outdoor conditions, coaching access, booking platform and total court cost before choosing a venue.
Sources and Editorial Notes
- International Padel Federation – global participation and court figures, June 2026
- International Padel Federation – Cristiano Ronaldo and padel
- Portuguese Padel Federation – Cidade do Padel project
- Padel Zenter – company history and founders
- Game4Padel – Andy Murray investment announcement
- Hexagon Cup – official team line-up
- Hexagon Cup – Eva Longoria team ownership announcement
Editorial standard: Public roles can change. Ownership and investment descriptions should be rechecked during future updates. Images should be published only where Padel Gameplan holds the appropriate usage rights.
Final Verdict
Celebrities playing padel have helped the sport reach audiences across football, tennis, motorsport, boxing and entertainment. The strongest examples are not simply famous people photographed with a racket, but figures with documented club investment, team ownership or sustained public involvement. For UK players, the practical next step is straightforward: choose a suitable local court, book an introductory session and judge the sport through real play.
