In an unexpected twist to his illustrious career, football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is setting his sights on a new goal: We can speak about coming conquering of the world of YouTube. The Portuguese icon, who may now boast the record for the biggest footballing soccer active social media account, is now toying with a subscriber race with YouTube star MrBeast. This rather unexpected decision has raised a lot of insecurity on Ronaldo’s side in sports and Digital entertainment business domains.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the current Instagram king with more than 500 million followers, is apparently planning to take the formula to YouTube. This desire to take on MrBeast with his channel that now has over 100 million followers shows that other than being a footballer, the ‘influencer’ wants to remain a force to reckon with despite his career slowly winding down.
Well, this year, Mr Beast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, managed to amass a following on YouTube by pulling off outrageous antics, giving away free stuff, and setting out big, exciting challenges. His content mostly produces very big amounts of money and spends them on ridiculous projects, and he has an audience from all over the world. Currently, this space could be disrupted by Ronaldo joining this platform, which holds a broad fan base and stardom recognition.
The shift in the potential conflict whilst two such giants of their chosen sectors prepare to meet has prompted debates that concern the modern dynamics and new definitions of celebrity and power. Ronaldo’s inclusion of YouTube as a serious platform for the brand extension also demonstrates the role of internet content production in today’s celebrity business model. It also accentuates the differences between conventional sports celebrities and the impression of the new age influencer personality.
MrBeast’s success has attracted attention to what kind of content Ronaldo might create to challenge MrBeast. While the footballer will be coming to YouTube with his workout routines and acceptable lifestyle, he may have to particularize his content to this diverse platform. While some believe he may be able to use his influence in the sporting industry to come up with different partnerships, others believe that he might need to share random glimpses of the real life of such a sporting enthusiast.
The race to the potential subscribers has also elicited concerns on the monetization plans Ronaldo might be having. MrBeast has produced kind acts and high-budget videos; he tends to pump the money he earns back into his videos. Ronaldo can definitely spice up the platform with his fortune and brand endorsement portfolio that can add value on the platform.
Others view Ronaldo’s decision in this move with the intention of cementing and maintaining power even after his playing days are over. At 38, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is winding down his years as a footballer, so transitioning to the digital space can keep him relevant for a long time. It also created new opportunities for marketing sponsors, adding more revenue sources, and may pave the way to the precedent for other athletes willing to prolong their careers in the internet environment.
The statement has elicited positive response from Ronaldo fans who are keen to see their hero in a different facet. Social media has been awash with discussions as to what formats Ronaldo could use with other YouTubers or what content he could execute to dethrone MrBeast. The thought of having Ronaldo participate in some of the infamous challenges and stunts that have come to define the content of MrBeast is something that interest many.
While the world waits to know whether Ronaldo is heading to YouTube, the effects that such a shift holds for both the sporting and the new media industries cannot be overemphasized. Should Ronaldo succeed in his foray, more athletes and traditional celebrities could follow suit to create more digital content to blur the distinction of the type of entertainment. In any case, Ronaldo’s interest in YouTube establishes the platform’s position in conquering giants of sports and show business around the world.
