Giovani dos Santos was noted as “the new messi” in the world, However, over the years he left the boots to become a successful businessman.
The former Mexican soccer player, who shared the field with Lionel Messi at Barcelona, He left football at 32 years old. Today, at 35, he found a new passion where he stands out as a multimillionaire businessman, building a legacy outside of sports.
The career of Giovani dos Santos
Giovani dos Santos was born in Monterrey, Mexico, on May 11, 1989, in a family deeply linked to football, since his father, Zizinho, was a prominent Brazilian footballer. Since he was a child, Giovani showed exceptional talent, which led him to be recruited by the FC Barcelona youth academy when he was only 12 years old, along with his brother Jonathan.
His official debut in the Barcelona first team came in September 2007, when he was 18 years old, under the technical direction of Frank Rijkaard. He came in as a substitute Thierry Henry in a match against Athletic Bilbao. In the Catalan team, he played 38 games, scored four goals and gave eight assists. His most notable performance was a hat trick against him Real Murcion the last day of the 2007-08 season.
Despite comparisons with Messi and initial enthusiasm, Giovani failed to settle at Barcelona and in 2008 he was transferred to Tottenham Hotspur of the Premier League. Kyle Walker, a former teammate, remembered his style: “He was like Ronaldinho, his ability with his feet and his movement were impressive.” However, the expectations weighed too much, and Giovani began a tour of various clubs, including Ipswich Town, Galatasaray and Racing de Santander.
His best stage came in Villarrealwhere between 2013 and 2015 he scored 18 goals and gave 15 assists in 78 games. After passing through Spain, he emigrated to MLS with Los Angeles Galaxywhere he played until 2019. He closed his career in the Club Americain his native country, before officially retiring in 2021.
What is the life of Giovani dos Santos today?
After retiring from football, the former athlete found a new path in the business world. He is currently a partner of Mexican Petroleum (PEMEX)the state company of Mexico in charge of the production and marketing of oil and natural gas. This strategic move secured him a position as prominent businessman in your country.
In addition, Giovani diversified his investments with the creation of a marketing company and participation in Procura, a Mexican chemical company. According to local media reports, these investments generate annual income that ranges between 300 thousand and 500 thousand dollars, which reinforces your position as a successful entrepreneur.
Dos Santos also kept a low profile in his personal life, focusing on his business projects and staying away from the public eye. “I always looked for opportunities beyond football. Now I am in a place where I can continue building,” he commented in a recent interview.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
