Ryan Reynolds Invest in Mexican Soccer
American actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney became minority owners of Necaxa, a Mexican team, this Monday, aiming to replicate the project they started with Wrexham Football Club, a Welsh team they acquired in September 2020.
Reynolds and McElhenney join a group of investors who landed at Necaxa in 2021, including Mexican-American actress Eva Longoria, MLB star Justin Verlander, American model Kate Upton, and NFL player Odell Beckham Jr.
According to "Variety," this group aims to boost their presence in international sports circles to take advantage of the high demand for soccer content on TV and streaming platforms.
The addition of Reynolds and McElhenney opens the door to filming a documentary detailing Necaxa's growth similar to "Welcome to Wrexham," a series that put the Welsh club in the spotlight of sports programs.
The star of movies like "Deadpool" and "Green Lantern" and the actor who played Mac in the comedy series "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" acquired Wrexham Football Club from England's fifth division in 2020. Within two years, they witnessed its ascent to League Two (fourth division) and recently to League One (third division).
"A few years ago, if you had told me I would be crying tears of joy over a soccer match in North Wales, I wouldn't have believed it. Congratulations to Wrexham. Let's make the city proud! This is the journey of our lives," was the message Reynolds posted on social media a few weeks back, following his team's promotion.
Unlike Wrexham, Club Necaxa, based in Aguascalientes, north of the capital, is a top-flight team in Mexico. Can these new investors lead Necaxa back to its golden years?