World Cup Winners Lead $47 Million Investment in Portuguese Club Estrela Amadora

Three World Cup winners, Thomas Müller, Mats Hummels and Lucas Hernandez, have entered the world of football ownership after joining an international consortium that acquired a 90% stake in Portuguese top-flight club Estrela da Amadora.

The investment group, which also includes former Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer, has bought the majority stake in a deal reportedly worth 40 million euros, or about $47 million. Estrela confirmed the takeover on Tuesday, opening a new chapter for a club whose journey over the past decade has been a remarkable story of revival.

The consortium is led by ADvantage and LEAD, with support from the KI Group. It acquired the stake from former owner and president Paulo Lopo, who bought Estrela for just 72,000 euros, around $84,000, in 2020.

Müller and Hummels were part of Germany's 2014 World Cup-winning team, while Hernandez helped France win football's biggest prize in 2018. The four players also share strong connections from their playing careers, with Müller having played alongside Hummels, Hernandez and Sommer at different stages during his long spell at Bayern Munich.

The takeover will also bring a change in leadership. Johannes Mösmang, who spent the past decade working in Bayern Munich's player-management department, will take over as Estrela's president.

For Estrela, the deal marks another dramatic milestone in its recent history. The club was declared insolvent in 2011, but began its comeback following a merger with Sintra in 2020. It returned to the Portuguese top flight in 2023 after climbing through the lower divisions.

Last season, Estrela finished 15th in the 18-team Primeira Liga, narrowly securing its place in the top division on a better head-to-head record than Casa Pia.

Now, backed by prominent football names and international investors, the club from Amadora, just 10 kilometres northwest of Lisbon, is preparing for a new phase. For a team that once faced financial collapse, the arrival of World Cup winners as investors represents a remarkable turnaround, and raises fresh hopes for Estrela's future in Portuguese football.