Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney brought on-field success and global interest to Welsh football club Wrexham following their acquisition in November 2020.
Now, American stars appear to have expanded even further into the world of sports investing, this time a little closer to home.
Variety reported on April 29 that the couple have become new investors in Mexican club Necaxa, a two-time former CONCACAF regional champion and a club with a rich history in Liga MX. Although their heyday came during the 1990s, the Aguascalientes team is a widely recognized name in North America, unlike Wrexham before their momentous takeover.
So why exactly are Wrexham’s famous owners broadening their horizons into top-flight Mexican football? And what does Eva Longoria have to do with it? This is what we know so far.
Who are Necaxa? Why Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought a stake in the Liga MX club
Necaxa is one of the best-known clubs in Liga MX. Founded just over 100 years ago, they are three-time Mexican champions and two-time winners of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, most recently in 1999.
According VarietyReynolds and McElhenney are buying a minority but “significant” stake in the club, which counts fellow Hollywood star Eva Longoria among its investors.
It is not yet clear exactly what their involvement with the club will be, but many are already predicting a ‘Welcome to Wrexham’-style documentary series, while global interest in the team’s successes and failures is likely to increase with Reynolds and McElhenney on board. From his perspective, harnessing the potential of a club of the stature of Necaxa and its supporters seems an obvious move after the success of his venture at Wrexham.
Mexico’s top league was the most-watched domestic soccer competition in the United States until 2023, and even now, it is second only to the Premier League when it comes to viewing figures in the United States.
Does Eva Longoria own Necaxa?
Eva Longoria bought a stake in Necaxa in 2021, along with fellow investors Al Tylis and Sam Porter. She doesn’t own the club, but Variety reported that she helped bring Reynolds and McElhenney on board.
⚡️See you at Victoria, @Eva Longoria! ?#This is my home ♥️ pic.twitter.com/LvKz6JFCYV
— ⚡️Club Necaxa⚡️ (@ClubNecaxa) April 28, 2024
American actress Longoria was born in Texas but has Mexican heritage. The 49-year-old, who is also a producer and director, entered the world of sports through sportswear manufacturer Sunrise Brands in 2015, and in 2020 she joined the ownership group of the NWSL’s Angel City.
What does this mean for Wrexham?
It’s unclear exactly what Reynolds and McElhenney’s day-to-day involvement in Necaxa might look like, but if they are minority shareholders in a club with many other investors, it is unlikely they will have the same kind of hands-on approach they have taken. with Wrexham.
Necaxa’s status as a top-tier team in Mexico also means that they will need much less direct involvement from their celebrity shareholders, as brand promotion is not as important for a club valued at $200 million in 2022, which is among the best teams in the world. Most watched soccer league in the United States after the English Premier League.
In other words, it seems unlikely that Wrexham will suffer a reduced level of interest and input from its owners even if its investment in Necaxa is ratified.
Is Wrexham a good team with Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney managing the club?
Wrexham has prospered thanks to the increased attention (and spending power) brought to them by Reynolds and McElhenney, and the Welcome to Wrexham series.
They were promoted back to the English Football League last year after failing to achieve promotion in 2021/22. This season, they stormed into League Two to win promotion once again, finishing second in the table behind Stockport County, meaning they will play in League One in 2024/25, a pision just two steps away from the lucrative Premier League.
Other sports ventures of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney
Ryan Reynolds also owns a stake in the Alpine Formula 1 team, having purchased 24 percent of its shares as a member of The Investor Group. That participation cost 200 million euros in June 2023.
Deadpool or Esteban Ocón? ? #Alpine #LasVegasGP pic.twitter.com/KrWxx73WlG
— BWT Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) November 17, 2023
Rob McElhenney has no other major sports investments, but he is a big fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, as he is a native of the city.
