Footballers these days seem to have become very brand conscious, with much of their spare time going into marketing ventures away from football in order to spread their brand and image around and to reach all corners of modern society. None more so than Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portuguese superstar has investments in underwear, watches, footwear and textiles among others and now, he’s kicking on to the world of tech.

The world’s richest footballer has purchased the majority stake in Portugal’s ‘Thing Pink’, a digital agency aimed at helping companies to communicate and grow through what they like to call ‘connected ecosystems’.

According to Techcrunch.com, the Real Madrid star is set to rebrand the agency as ‘7EGEND’, replacing the Thing Pink brand. His alleged plan is to use the brand as a vehicle to launch new tech products.

Thing Pink has previous links to Ronaldo, having been responsible for installing the entire digital component of the new CR7 museum in Funchal (on Madeira Island), which is dedicated to Ronaldo’s trophies, achievements and his career.

Allegedly, the plan in essence for 7EGEND is more or less the continuation of Thing Pink, but will go on to start producing its own stand-alone tech products.

Sources close to Ronaldo say that the four-time Ballon d’Or winner was keen to get involved in the sector that is “increasingly more present in people’s everyday life.”

For those who haven’t managed to suss it, the name ‘7EGEND’ has been taken from Ronaldo’s shirt number - 7, which he wears for Portugal, Real Madrid and wore for his entire spell at Manchester United.

It's clear he's interested in joining other sports celebrities in investing in tech companies/products. It's now a given that these people will add it as part of their portfolio of investments.

And it's another sign that 32-year-old Ronaldo is preparing for life after football.