International soccer icon Leo Messi has joined Sergio Aguero on the ownership board of KRÜ Esports. This gives the team the backing of arguably the biggest sports star in the world.
KRÜ was founded in 2020 as an Argentine org and currently fields teams in Rocket League, FIFA, VALORANT, and League of Legends. The team currently boasts high-profile sponsors like Visa, Puma, Disney+, and Logitech.
In its mere three years, KRÜ has emerged as a powerhouse in the Americas region. Their slot in VCT Americas was one that was highly sought after when Riot Games unveiled their partnership program, and they’ve seemed to have strategically targeted games like Rocket League and FIFA to play close to their sports roots.
Before the announcement, rumors were spreading throughout the region that Aguero would cease to be the owner of KRÜ. The rumors turned out to be true, but only in part: Aguero is now the co-owner, and will remain in the esports space.
Adding Messi to its ownership group will only serve as a positive. Messi is arguably the most notable athlete in the world, and the added notoriety should raise the profile of the club in the eyes of lucrative traditional sports circles.
Reactions from esports fans have been nothing but jubilant. In a span of mere days, the perception of KRÜ went from a team that’s dead in the water to one that’s arguably higher-profile than LOUD in South America. Many noted that the announcement is one of the only positives that’s come from the year of the “esports winter,” which has seen many teams lay off employees and many publishers downsize their investments in esports leagues.
While adding a singular co-owner won’t immediately fix every problem, it’s still a positive moment for an industry that’s been hit hard in 2023.
